China values legitimate rights of its fishermen, including those of Taiwan

China attaches great importance to safeguarding the legitimate rights of Chinese fishermen, including Taiwan fishermen, and urged Japan to handle fishing disputes properly in accordance with the agreements reached between the two sides, a spokesman of China's Foreign Ministry said here Tuesday.

Taiwan fishermen reportedly said that they have been repeatedly driven away by Japanese patrol boats in the waters of the Diaoyu Islands, their traditional fishing ground. Some fishermen hung the national flag of China, the five-star red flag, on their fishing boats to avoid being driven by the Japanese patrol boats.

"We have voiced strong concern about this issue to Japan," Liu Jianchao told a regular press conference.

China and Japan have signed a fishing agreement which contains proper arrangements on issues of fishing in the relevant waters, said the spokesman, adding that Taiwan is part of China and the Japanese side should behave in accordance with the agreement.

"China strongly opposes any of Japan's moves that will violate the one-China principle on the pretext of dispute with Taiwan on fishing affairs," Liu said.

Source: Xinhua