Taipei is stepping up diplomatic efforts to clarify its position on Okinotorishima Island, the southernmost point of Japanese territory, after a Taiwanese fishing boat and its crew were detained by the Japan Coast Guard for fishing in adjacent waters.

Tsai Ming-yaw, secretary-general of the Association of East Asian Relations — an agency linked to Taiwan's Foreign Ministry which handles ties with Japan in the absence of formal diplomatic relations — said Thursday those efforts include having Taiwan's representative to Japan, Shen Ssu-tsun, speak with Tadashi Imai, the president of Japan's Interchange Association in Tokyo.

Tsai said Foreign Minister David Lin met with Japan's representative to Taiwan, Mikio Numata, on Friday morning to convey Taiwan's position.