台灣與日本之間所存在的漁業爭端,由來已久,近年來雙方因漁業問題產生的衝突日趨激烈,儘管雙方迄今已召開16次的漁業磋商,但仍無法有效地解決問題。事實上,台日之間的漁業爭端,一方面可說是戰後國際秩序未能完整處理之下的產物,另一方面也可說是戰後海洋法秩序發展過程中所衍生的資源爭奪問題。換言之,戰後的海洋空間,隨著沿岸國競相主張海洋權利,使得有關海洋利益方面的國際爭端層出不窮,此類的海洋爭端大多以漁業開發、島嶼領有與海域疆界劃定等的問題與爭端為主,而東海海域正是兼具了這些爭端性質,形勢更顯複雜。目前台日漁業爭端主要發生在釣魚台列嶼附近海域,此部分牽涉到島嶼領有的主權爭議問題,另一部分是屬於雙方漁民明顯在對方領海或專屬經濟區內的違法作業行為,此部分沿岸國雖得行使管轄權,但仍受國際法上的相關限制。本稿之目的並非在於針對台日目前的漁業紛爭提出具體的政策建議,而是在於從國際法上的相關規定探討台日漁業爭端的性質與台日雙方面對漁業紛爭時所應抱持的法律思維。事實上,戰後以來,日本與中國早在東海海域進行相關的漁業合作。當然,在台灣的中華民國政府仍是代表中國的唯一合法政府之時,日中僅能針對此一海域進行民間層級的漁業合作。這種的民間合作關係後來因70年代的日中建交以及90年代的《聯合國海洋法公約》之生效又有新的變化。此種變化也直接衝擊到台灣漁民在此區域的漁業利益。有鑑於此,本稿先探討戰後日中漁業合作的發展與轉變,並分析日中的漁業合作對於台灣具有如何的影響,進而檢討台日未來解決雙方漁業紛爭應有之法律思維。
East China Sea, a maritime area surrounded by Taiwan, China and Japan, is abundant in living and non-living natural resources. In this maritime area, these three states claims their maritime sovereignty or jurisdiction respectively so that some kinds of maritime disputes like maritime delimitation and development of natural resources often occur.Under such circumstance, fishery disputes have been unresolved issues between Taiwan and Japan since 1990's although both sides had conducted bilateral fishery negotiations for many times. Actually, such fishery disputes can be rooted in the fact that the coastal states have expanded their jurisdiction seaward since WWII.This article aims to clarify the history and nature of fishery disputes between Taiwan and Japan from a legal perspective.Firstly, it refers to the relation between Japan and the Chinese communist government on fishing in East China Sea. Secondly, how the bilateral agreements on fishery between Japan and the Chinese communist government affect Taiwan's fishery interests will be discussed. At last, from the viewpoint of international law, this essay concludes that both sides should not only solve the disputes peacefully but also consider the maritime safety, fishermen's interest and sustainable development of maritime resources.