CCTV9英语新闻：台湾渔民前往太平岛

CCTV9英语新闻：台湾渔民前往太平岛

南海临时仲裁庭称太平岛是“岩礁”，引起了台湾广泛抗议。周三，来自屏东县的渔民出发前往太平岛保护他们捕鱼的权利，并且向世界证明太平岛是岛不是礁。

The tribunal for the South China Sea arbitration classified Taiping island as a rock. Under international law, rocks are not entitled to a 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone. There have been protests in Taiwan ever since. 

On Wednesday, fishermen from Pingdung county in the south set sail for Taiping Island to protect their fishing rights and prove to the world that Taiping is an island, not a rock. Their flotilla consists of five fishing boats.

Cheng Chun-chung, who initiated the protest against the ruling by arbitration tribunal, speaks during a ceremony, on July 20, 2016. [Photo: Xinhua]

The fishermen said they plan to go fishing in the island’s economic zone and land on Taiping. They intend to cook and draw natural fresh water there to prove Taiping’s island status. The fishermen said it may take five to six days to reach the island.