Diaoyu landing by Taiwan activists frustrated

A Japan Coast Guard vessel (R) sprays water at a Taiwanese boat (bottom L) as the latter vessel ventures near the disputed Diaoyu islands on Thursday. A boat carrying Taiwanese activists heading for the islands turned back after coast guard vessels from the two sides converged and dueled with water cannon. Photo: AFP 

A fishing boat with activists from Taiwan failed to land on the Diaoyu Islands on Thursday, after Japan Coast Guard vessels fired water cannon to obstruct it from sailing to the islands.

The boat, Happy Family, with seven people onboard, began to return after it arrived at the waters about 31 nautical miles southwest of the Diaoyu Islands.

The Happy Family was escorted by four coast guard ships from Taiwan, leaving for the islands early Thursday morning.

The activists planned to declare sovereignty over the islands, and erect a statue of Matsu, a southern Chinese traditional sea goddess who is said to protect fishermen and sailors.

When the fishing boat sailed to the waters about 52 kilometers southwest of the Diaoyu Islands, eight Japanese coast guard ships obstructed it by making waves and emitting black smoke, and later spraying water on the vessel.

Taiwan Coast Guard ships engaged in an exchange of sprayed water with the Japanese ships and warned them against obstructing the Happy Family.

Three marine surveillance ships from the Chinese mainland also arrived adjacent to the waters Thursday, according to the Taiwan's Central News Agency.

Foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei on Thursday said the mainland has been following the development of the trip and reiterated China's stance over the Diaoyu Islands.

Joint activities across the Taiwan Straits have been common in such declarations of sovereignty over the islands in the past, but the authorities rarely join hands to protect the territory. "Though Taiwan and the mainland have not made a joint move so far, they have common ground in protecting the Diaoyu Islands," said Huang Jiashu, a professor with Renmin University of China.

Bilateral relations between China and Japan hit freezing point after the Japanese government "purchased" the Diaoyu Islands last September.

This week, Japan sent special envoy Natsuo Yamaguchi, leader of the New Komeito party, to China with a letter from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Commnist Party of China, hoping to normalize relations. Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met Yamaguchi in Beijing on Thursday.

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