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Take steps against China’s ADIZ move:
DPP
By Chen Ching-min and Stacy Hsu / Staff reporter, with staff
writer and CNA
Democratic Progressive Party
Policy Research Committee executive director Joseph Wu, right, yesterday
criticizes China’s inclusion of the Diaoyutai Islands in its East China Sea air
defense identification zone during a press conference in Taipei.
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
China’s demarcation of an East China Sea
air defense identification zone (ADIZ) that includes the disputed Diaoyutai
Islands (釣魚台) is a clear act of expansionism that risks destabilizing the
Asia-Pacific region and the world’s failure to take substantial actions will
only embolden China to launch military aggression against its neighbors, the
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said yesterday.
At the instruction of DPP Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌), DPP Policy Research
Committee executive director Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), International Affairs Department
director Liu Shih-chung (劉世忠), China Affairs Department director Hung Tsai-lung
(洪財隆) and former National Security Council (NSC) consultant York Chen (陳文政) made
the remark at a press conference in Taipei yesterday morning.
The party issued three demands to President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration:
that the government lodge a stern protest against China’s unilateral declaration
of the ADIZ in an attempt to challenge the “status quo” in the region; that it
maintain close contact with concerned allies to work out a plan for cooperative
efforts and pay close attention to the matter; and that it work to ensure
uninterrupted patrols by Taiwan’s fighter jets and naval vessels in the nation’s
own ADIZ in waters off northeastern Taiwan and take substantial measures to
defend the nation’s sovereignty and national security.
China’s unilateral demarcation of the ADIZ, which overlaps that of Taiwan’s and
Japan’s, not only runs counter to international norms, but also underlines its
apparent attempt to unilaterally change the “status quo” in the region, Wu said.
“Such an action may escalate tensions and seriously jeopardize the peace and
stability in the Asia-Pacific region. The DPP solemnly remonstrates against such
irresponsible and provocative behavior and demands that China immediately
retract its ADIZ announcement,” Wu said.
Wu said history had shown that weakness only breeds more aggressive expansion
and costs nations more dearly afterward.
“Forty-eight hours have passed [since China’s ADIZ announcement on Saturday].
However, the Ma administration’s responses to the matter have remained
unbelievably feeble, with the National Security Council voicing concerns and the
Ministry of National Defense expressing regret,” Wu said.
“The government’s failure to lodge a protest or issue a condemnation of China’s
behavior constitutes a serious dereliction of duty, and the party is extremely
disappointed,” Wu said.
Wu said the party expressed support for US Secretary of State John Kerry’s
condemnation of China for initiating a “unilateral action that constitutes an
attempt to change the status quo in the East China Sea” and to US Secretary of
Defense Chuck Hagel’s reiteration of the US’ commitment to defend its Asian
allies in case of a conflict.
“The DPP is also willing to join hands with its international partners to
safeguard peace and stability in the region,” Wu said.
Separately, Minister of Foreign Affairs David Lin (林永樂) said the government has
been in contact with the US and Japan over China’s ADIZ announcement.
“We have expressed our hopes that all parties concerned will resolve disputes
through peaceful dialogue to maintain regional peace and stability,” Lin said on
the sidelines of a hearing of the Legislative Yuan’s Foreign Affairs and
National Defense Committee.
However, he declined to go into detail when asked about the contents of talks
with the US and Japan over China’s ADIZ demarcation.
Lin said that the communications were mainly aimed at expressing Taiwan’s hope
that territorial disputes would be settled via peaceful dialogue.
“This is the most important principle that should prevail,” Lin said.
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