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Taiwan wants to discuss fishery pact with China: President Ma

ROC Central News Agency

2013/05/08 22:47:05

Taipei, May 8 (CNA) President Ma Ying-jeou said Wednesday that Taiwan, fresh from its fishery agreement with Japan, is willing to talk with China about signing a similar pact in a bid to end the controversies over fishing in waters around the contested Diaoyutai Islands.

Ma said that in its negotiations with Japan, the Taiwan government did not yield on the issue of Taiwan's sovereignty over the Diaoyutais but rather sought better protection for the legal rights of Taiwanese fishermen.

'I don't think I did anything wrong in the process,' Ma said in a radio interview.

He said that the Taiwan-Japan fishery pact will certainly not affect cross-strait exchanges because his East China Sea Peace Initiative aims to promote negotiations on fishing rights agreements between China and Japan, Taiwan and Japan, and Taiwan and China.

Regarding the Diaoyutais territorial issue, Ma said China thinks it should be the one talking with Japan on the matter. However, it is the matter of Taiwanese fishermen's rights, he said.

'I, as the president, certainly should step up to ensure our fishing rights,' Ma said.

The government has helped Taiwanese fishermen secure better fishing rights in the waters around the contested islands, the president said.

Touching on a provision in the pact that either side can terminate the agreement with six months' notice, Ma said this clause is included in almost all treaties and pacts.

For instance, the 1954 defense treaty between the United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan), in which the United States pledged to provide protection to the ROC, could be terminated with one year's notice, Ma said. However, the agreement has been in effect for over 20 years, he added.

Having completed a fishery pact with Japan, Taiwan now wants to negotiate a similar agreement with China, if China would be willing to do so, the president said.

Asked whether he plans to visit China, Ma said he will think about that only after he retires from office.

As to whether he will invite former Chinese President Hu Jintao or former Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to visit Taiwan, Ma said he does not consider that a pressing matter.

There are more important tasks at hand, such as increasing exchanges with China, he said.

(By Kelven Huang and Y.L. Kao)
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