Taiwan sent two patrol ships to Japan's Okinotorishima Island on Sunday in response to the seizure of a Taiwanese fishing vessel by the Japanese coast guard last week. 

The ships - a coast guard ship and a Council of Agriculture vessel - left from Kaohsiung and will be followed by warships, said government spokesperson David Lo.

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Although Japan's claim to Okinotorishima is disputed by China, Taiwan, and South Korea, a 2013 fisheries agreement between Taiwan and Japan enabled Taiwan's fishing activities to continue peacefully in the surrounding waters - until now.

Last week Japan detained the Tung Sheng Chi 16 - a Taiwanese trawler - near Okinotorishima, an area frequented by up to 200 Taiwanese fishing boats per year.

Japan considers the atoll an island, giving the country rights to an exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles and justifying the seizure of the Taiwanese vessel, which ventured within 150 nautical miles of the territory. Taiwan views Okinotorishima as a reef with no protected waters.

"Japan has no right to ban our fishing boats from the area. The government will resolutely defend the rights and freedom of our fishermen in international waters," Taiwan's coast guard said in a statement. 

The ships' deployment will last between one to three months as the two sides are waiting for Taiwan's government to transition from current president Ma Ying-jeou to newly-elected Tsai Ing-wen on May 20.

Alex Chiang, professor of international relations at Taipei's National Chengchi University, is not overly concerned about the conflict.

"I don't think (the dispute) will get any bigger. I think the Ma government has to take some stand. Japan will hold on and talk to the new government."

Prior to the 2013 fisheries agreement, the worst incident between the two countries involved ships firing water cannons at each other. 

TagsJapan, Taiwan, Japan seizes fishing boat, coast guard, disputed islands, Okinotorishima island, tung sheng chi 16, international waters