Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) on Monday condemned
Chinese fishers for using cyanide near Dongsha Island, calling the practice
harmful to marine life and a violation of international law.

She urged all countries to respect the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea
and said Taiwan will strengthen maritime surveillance, starting with drones
and later expanding to manned aircraft.

Kuan also announced that Taiwan’s latest National Ocean Policy White Paper
will be released at the end of this month, outlining the government’s vision
for marine development.

She was at an international seminar on marine environment management,
attended by experts from eight countries.

During the event, Taiwan signed its first international agreement under the
Indo-Pacific Marine Debris Platform with Indonesia, aimed at tackling ocean
waste collaboratively.

Kuan stressed that "ocean waste knows no borders" and called on China to
cooperate with Taiwan on debris issues around Kinmen and Matsu.

(IG)