Abstract: According to international law or international practice,all the fishery resources of territorial waters belong to the country inshore only.Since the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century,the problem of protecting the fishery right of China had become increasing serious,the exclusive fishery right of China was violated.During the Republic of China period Japan was rampant in fishing in the waters of China illegally.In order to carry out their illegal fishing plan,the Japanese government and personal organizations carried on massive investigations to Chinese fishery resources.They fished illegally in the waters of China illegally all-around,from the northeast coast to the coasts of Fujian and Guangdong provinces.There were Japanese fishing vessels everywhere in China.Compare with other big powers,Japan had its own characteristics in fishing in China illegally.Japanese fishing in China lasted more than half a century and had the extremely profound influence.It was a factor holding back the development of China’s fishery.It also destroyed the integrity of Chinese sovereignty over territorial waters.But on the other hand,it was an objective factor accelerating the constitution of the system of territorial waters in China.

Key words: the Republic of China, Japan, fishing illegally, sovereignty over territorial waters