Though international law provides the right to maritime economic activity including fishing, the areas in dispute are open waters and not territorial seas, which are within 12 nautical miles. The harassment of fishermen by Japanese patrol boats within Taiwan's economic zone must meet a stern response.
儘管國際法賦予各國對於經濟海域漁業資源的管理權，但該區的基本性質仍為公海而非領海（領土週邊 12 浬），日本艦艇在經濟海域內任意驅離我國漁船，的確有必要嚴正面對。