Coast Guard games off the Diaoyutai/Senkaku islands

The CGA's 500-tonne Hualien coastal patrol ship

Despite approaching Japan-Taiwan talks on fisheries issues, some Taiwanese continue to apply pressure on the sovereignty angle  
Japanese media reported at the weekend that a Coast Guard Administration vessel was seen operating in waters near the Diaoyutais, coming within 39km off Uotsuri Island, the largest islet in the chain, known as the Senkakus by the Japanese.

The 11th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, said the Taiwanese vessel entered the area at 7:10am. The Hualien 119, a 500-tonne medium coastal patrol ship, left the contiguous area at 8:25am. Around the same time, Chinese patrol vessels were observed sailing in the contiguous zone outside Japanese waters for the third day in a row. 

The Coast Guard Administration said the Hualien was on a routine maritime patrol mission. My article, published today in the Taipei Times, continues here.