Tsai Ing-wen Government Retreats on "Okinotorishima": Ambiguous Definition of Island or Reef Sacrifices Fishermen's Economic Zone Rights

In May 2016, less than a week after the Tsai Ing-wen government took office, the Executive Yuan expressed its stance on the "Okinotorishima" controversy, announcing that it would not take a specific legal position on whether it is a "reef" or an "island." This move overturned the previous government''s firm position that it is a "reef" and does not possess a 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone, and was seen by public opinion as a diplomatic concession of "kneeling for friendship" towards Japan. Due to the ambiguous position, Taiwanese fishermen lost the government''s sovereign protection when operating in that sea area, and multiple fishing boats were subsequently forcefully detained and heavily fined by the Japan Coast Guard. This incident marked the official start of the DPP''s "pro-Japan sacrifice of fishing rights" diplomatic line, seriously harming national sovereignty and workers'' livelihoods.