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MOFA rejects
cross-strait effort over Diaoyutais
By Shih Hsiu-chuan / Staff reporter
Minister of Foreign Affairs Timothy Yang (·¨¶i²K) yesterday rejected the
possibility that Taiwan and China would join hands in asserting sovereignty over
the disputed Diaoyutai Islands (³¨³½¥x), an idea proposed by Chinese academics on
Wednesday.
¡§The Republic of China¡¦s position has been that we do not join hands to act
together with mainland China in our dealings on the Diaoyutai Islands issue. On
this issue, we have our stance and national interests,¡¨ Yang said.
A report in the China Daily, a mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party, on
Wednesday quoted Zhu Wenqi (¦¶¤å©_), a law professor at Renmin University and
former member of the International Court of Justice, as saying that Taiwan and
China should ¡§work together¡¨ against Japan on the issue because they ¡§share the
same stance.¡¨
China and Taiwan should together ¡§push Japan to start negotiations and even
jointly develop the region with its rich fishing and tourism resources,¡¨ Zhu was
quoted as saying.
The paper also quoted Feng Zhaokui (¶¾¬L«¶), a Japanese studies researcher with the
Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, as saying ¡§the dispute with Japan actually
may help to strengthen cross-strait ties.¡¨
On Wednesday, Huang Hsi-lin (¶À¿üÅï) and two other members of the Chunghua Baodiao
Alliance, achieved what they described as ¡§a great success¡¨ by getting a fishing
boat within 0.8 nautical miles (1.48km) of the Diaoyutais, under the escort of
five Republic of China Coast Guard Administration (CGA) patrol vessels. The
voyage drew a sharp reaction from Japan.
During a standoff with three Japanese patrol ships, Japanese maritime police
attempted to get on board the fishing vessel, but were prevented by coast guard
personnel. A Japanese patrol ship then bumped into a CGA vessel as the fishing
boat was surrounded by the five CGA vessels on their way back to Taiwan, the
Coast Guard Administration said.
It was only learned later that the activists carried with them the People¡¦s
Republic of China five-starred flag, rather than a flag of the Republic of China
(ROC). The footage provided by the alliance showed they tried to raise the flag,
but it ended up floating in the sea.
Asked about the flag, Huang said he forgot to bring an ROC one.
China¡¦s reaction to Huang¡¦s stunt came at a regularly scheduled press conference
held by Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Liu Weimin (¼B¬°¥Á) in
Beijing.
¡§The Diaoyu Islands and its affiliated islands have been China¡¦s inherent
territory since ancient times. China has indisputable sovereignty over them.
China will continue to take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard its
sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands. We have urged the Japanese side not to take
any actions that might endanger the safety and property of Chinese personnel,
including compatriots from Taiwan,¡¨ Liu said when asked for a comment.
Chu Jingtao (»uÀRÀÜ), an assistant fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social
Sciences¡¦ Taiwan History Research Center, reportedly said the event marked the
first time both sides of the Taiwan Strait showed an act of tacit cooperation in
the fields of politics and diplomacy.
In related developments, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taipei yesterday
protested to Japan after learning that six city councilors from Ishigaki,
Okinawa Prefecture, inspected waters surrounding Beisiao Island (¥_¤p®q, known as
Kitakojima in Japan).
Wire agency reports quoted a Japanese coast guard official as saying one of the
politicians and another person dove off a fishing boat, swam to the island and
stayed there for about 90 minutes.
Yang called on the Japanese government and personages in all circles not to
provoke ¡§unnecessary¡¨ troubles and disturb the stability of the region.
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