US urges resolution in Japan, Taiwan dispute

Updated June 17, 2008 17:37:41

Taiwan activists in the East China Sea protesting in an escalating dispute with Japan over ownership of nearby islands. [Reuters]

The United States has pressed Japan and Taiwan to resolve their increasingly heated dispute over a ship collision in disputed waters.

''We urge all claimants to exercise restraint and to ensure that this issue is resolved by peaceful means,'' State Department deputy spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said.

The Japanese Coast Guard vessel 'Koshiki' chased and collided last Tuesday with a Taiwanese fishing boat 'Lienhe' near a chain of islets in the East China Sea.

Japan, Taiwan and China lay claim to the Japanese-administered islets, known in Japan as the Senkaku Islands, in Taiwan as Tiaoyutai and in China as Diaoyu.

The islets are rich in fishery resources and, potentially, natural gas deposits.

The Taiwanese fishing boat quickly sank after the run-in and all 16 people onboard were rescued by the Koshiki.

Captains blamed, diplomat tries to resign

Japanese authorities detained 'Lienhe' Captain Ho Hung-yi for three days for questioning, prompting Taipei to lodge protests against Tokyo.

Japan has since expressed regret and offered to pay reparations to Captain Ho for his sunken vessel, while a Japanese investigation into the collision found both Captain Ho and the Coast Guard vessel captain at fault for the collision.

Taiwan's top representative to Japan urged the island's foreign ministry on Monday to let him resign over the worsening diplomatic row.

''I had pleaded to the foreign ministry to replace me before July,'' said Koh Se-kai, Taiwan's de facto ambassador to Japan in the absence of official ties.

''They won't let me step down.''