Taiwanese authorities said Monday that bilateral negotiations over Japan's seizure of a Taiwanese fishing boat off tiny Okinotorishima Island will begin soon.
The trawler and its crew were detained by the Japan Coast Guard for fishing in Japan's self-declared exclusive economic zone based on the atoll, which is barely visible at high tide but represents the southernmost point of Japanese territory.
Deputy Foreign Minister Javier Hou told a legislative committee session that in addition to protesting, his ministry hopes both sides will be able to resolve the issue through peaceful means.