FISHERMEN MOBILIZE TO ASSERT FISHING RIGHTS|登島宣示主權 漁民下週三赴太平島

The Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague ruled that Taiping Island is a rock, not an island. This would affect Taiwan's fishery zone around Taiping Island. Fishermen from Donggang, Pingtung, are upset about the ruling, and many of them are mobilized to sail to Taiping Island and guard their fishing rights.They plan to sail out by July 20th, and many other fishermen endorsed the action. The ruling from the international tribunal says that Taiping Island is a rock rather than an island. It evoked anger from fishermen at Donggang, because that would affect their fishery zone. The fishermen mobilized to sail to Taiping Island for advocating sovereignty. One fishing boat owner says he can't wait for government to act, he wants the world to see, now. ==CHENG CHUN-CHUNG, fishing boat owner== Taiwan has long been bullied. You need to stand up and strive for a living. You see, Taiping is an island, but it was ruled as a rock. Ancestors were all here, and that is a rock? International oppression is unreasonable. Fishermen point out, the fishery zone around the Spratley Islands is very important to Taiwanese fishermen, sovereignty is the only factor to rid of threats from the Philippines and Vietnam. The fishermen are mobilizing 10 to 30 fishing vessels, and plan to depart from Donggang by July 20th. ==MR. CHANG, fisherman== When there was a typhoon, we sailed to Taiping Island for cover up. When waves were too high, we sailed over there too. There are more than 10 wells on Taiping Island and the water is edible. Donggang Fishermen's Association says it respects the wishes of fishermen and will not interfere. The Liouciou Fishermen's Association encourages fishermen to participate. The Coast Guard Administration dispatched the one thousand ton Taitung Cutter to patrol around fishery zones, and did not reveal the days of patrolling. TRANSLATED BY：ANTHONY LIN 南海仲裁，將太平島降格為礁，恐怕會影響我國，在太平島，周圍海域的漁權。因此，屏東、東港區漁民，就號召，自主前往太平島。他們表示，多年以來，都在附近捕撈，沒有辦法接受，太平島被判是為礁，因為這會衝擊到漁民的，作業權利，預計在20號，下周三出發，登島宣示主權。 南海仲裁結果，太平島被認定是岩礁、不是島，引發東港漁民不滿，衝擊他們的作業權，號召自主登島宣示主權，並慰問島上官兵，海吉利號船東鄭春忠氣憤表示，等不到政府宣示行動，要自己站出來讓世界看見。 ==海吉利號船東 鄭春忠== 長期以來人被欺負 就是要站出來 才有辦法生存 你看這個島說成礁 從祖先都在這邊 說成礁 硬要壓迫我們 這真的很無理 漁民也指出，南沙群島是我國重要漁場，宣示主權才能避免菲律賓和越南威脅，意義重大，預計20號從東港出發，將號召10到30艘漁船前往太平島，往返航程12天，每艘船油資約30萬元，已經陸續獲得響應。 ==東港漁民 張先生== 有時候颱風緊急時 也曾進去避風 風浪過大 也曾進去避風 上面有好幾十口井 不是沒有井 是可以吃的 東港區漁會表示尊重漁民作法，不會介入，但琉球區漁會則鼓勵漁民參加，而為了維護太平島周圍海域的漁權，1000噸級的台東艦，上午從花蓮港出發，接替偉星鑑執行巡弋護漁任務，這也是今年6月才正式成軍的台東艦，首次遠航護漁任務，就前往敏感的南海太平島海域，至於任務內容和天數，海巡單位不願透露。 高雄報導