China demands Japan properly handle disputes with Taiwan fishermen

China said on June 21 that it strongly resents to Japan's driving away of Taiwan fishing boats in waters near China's Diaoyu islands, and demands Japan handle and handle the fishing disputes prudently and properly.

Taiwanese fishermen said they have been repeatedly driven away by Japanese patrol boats in waters near the Diaoyu Islands, traditional fishing grounds for them. Some have even flown China's five-star national flag.

"The Chinese Government attaches great importance to the protection of the legitimate fishing rights of China's fishermen, including those from Taiwan," Liu Jianchao said at a press conference. " Their legitimate rights should not be infringed upon."

China and Japan have signed a fishing agreement which contains stipulations on issues of fishing in relevant waters, and the two sides should follow the agreement, said the spokesman.

The Diaoyu Islands and its adjacent waters are Chinese territories from ancient times and the waters are traditional fishing grounds for Chinese fishermen, China claims.

China calls on Japan to attach great importance to China's concerns and handle problems relevant to the fishing disputes properly and prudently, the spokesman said.

Source: Xinhua