SUAO, Taiwan // Dozens of Taiwanese fishing boats set sail yesterday for disputed East China Sea islands that are also claimed by China and Japan.
Taiwan's coastguard sent out at least 10 patrol boats alongside the more than 60 fishing vessels, with some of the patrol ships carrying fully armed elite coastguard personnel.
"We'll do everything to protect our fishermen. We do not rule out using force to fight back if Japan were to do so," said Wang Chin-wang, the head of the coastguard.
The fishermen aim to highlight Taiwan's claim over the uninhabited islands, known as Diaoyu in China but Senkaku in Japan, which lie 400 kilometres from the Okinawan capital of Naha and 200 kilometres from Taiwan.
The islands, which are administered by Japan, lie on vital shipping lanes and are believed to be located near potentially rich gasfields.
The 61 fishing boats flying Taiwan flags and demonstration banners left Suao, a port in north-east Taiwan. The 300 fishermen and 60 reporters aboard are expected to arrive around dawn today.
Once there, the vessels plan to sail inside Japan's 12-nautical-mile territorial zone surrounding the islands.
The boats carried signs written in Chinese characters reading "Diaoyutai belongs to Taiwan" and "Fighting for fishing rights for survival".
Amid protests against Japan, which this month bought some of the disputed islands, Tokyo plans to send a special envoy to Taiwan today, the foreign ministry in Taipei said.
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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