KMT Demands National Maritime Rights Meeting Following Japan-Philippines EEZ Talks

Central News Agency, Taipei, June 2. Following the announcement by Japan and the Philippines to initiate negotiations on their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf boundaries, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its approval. However, the KMT legislative caucus criticized the ministry for compromising national interests for political PR. They urged the Executive Yuan to convene a national-level maritime rights meeting to evaluate the impact on Taiwan's fishing rights, energy, and strategic interests. KMT caucus secretary-general Lin Pei-hsiang stated that the overlapping area is located in the waters east to southeast of Taiwan, significantly overlapping with Taiwan's claimed 200-nautical-mile EEZ. The KMT has proposed four demands, including immediate inclusion of Taiwan in the negotiations and enhanced maritime patrol efforts.