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U.S. repeats call for peaceful resolution of Diaoyutais row

ROC Central News Agency

2013/02/01 13:15:28

Taipei, Feb. 1 (CNA) The commander of the U.S. Pacific Command on Friday reiterated the U.S. policy of a peaceful resolution of the territorial disputes in the East China Sea, which have resulted in growing tensions between China and Japan.

The U.S. expects these disputes will be approached in a fashion that is peaceful and without coercion and that the issue ultimately will be settled and decided between the governments and without military intervention, Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III told journalists throughout the Asia-Pacific region in a teleconference.

He was responding to a questions on whether the U.S. would intervene in the event of a military conflict between Japan and China over their territorial claims to the Diaoyutai Islands.

Locklear reiterated the U.S. policy that it "does not take sides in territorial disputes" among other countries.

The Diaoyutais, called the Senkakus in Japan and the Diaoyu Islands in China, lie about 100 nautical miles northeast of Taiwan.

They have been under Japan's administrative control since 1972, but are also claimed by Taiwan and China.

Locklear said he would not speculate on what the United States will do militarily in any contingency anywhere in the world.

But even contemplating the use of force to address the East China Sea territorial dispute is "unacceptable," he added.

He instead suggested that the countries involved engage in dialogue aimed at working together to create a secure environment that would allow "us to get through these disagreements we have with each other, because they will continue," he said.

Asked whether he supports the East China Sea Peace initiative proposed by President Ma Ying-jeou, Locklear said he is not in a position to support or not support what Ma and the people of Taiwan decide to do.

"I will defer that question to the people of Taiwan," he added.

Last August, Ma proposed a peace initiative that calls for the parties concerned to refrain from hostile actions, shelve their differences, not abandon dialogue, observe international law and resolve the dispute by peaceful means.

All sides should also seek consensus on a code of conduct for the East China Sea and establish a mechanism for cooperation on exploring and developing resources in the region, Ma proposed.

On the Diaoyutais dispute, outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Jan. 18. that the U.S. does not take a position on the ultimate sovereignty of the islands, but acknowledges they are under the administration of Japan and opposes "any unilateral actions that would seek to undermine Japanese administration."

The long-simmering row over the Diaoyutais came to a head last September after the Japanese government bought three of the islets from their private owner in an attempt to reinforce its sovereignty claim.

China and Japan have deployed aircraft to the area in recent weeks in a further escalation of tensions, although no actual clashes have taken place.

(By Elaine Hou)