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President calls for 3-way fishery talks with China, Japan

ROC Central News Agency

2013/06/06 23:32:20

Taipei, June 6 (CNA) President Ma Ying-jeou called Thursday for three-way talks with China and Japan on fishing and the development of natural resources in the East China Sea, and the shelving of their sovereignty disputes over the Diaoyutai Islands.

In an interview with Japan's Kyodo News, the president said he hopes the East China Sea can become 'a sea of peace and cooperation.'

Disputes in the area cannot be resolved unless Taiwan, China and Japan are all part of the process, said Ma. All three claim sovereignty over the Diaoyutai Islands, known as the Senkakus in Japan.

Instead of three sets of bilateral dealings between Taiwan, China and Japan, the three sides need to meet in one group, he said.

In response, Yoshihide Suga, Japan's chief cabinet secretary, said at a press conference that Japan rejected the idea that sovereignty over the islands is in dispute, according to Kyodo News.

'Japan will not accept such remarks based on Taiwan's claim,' Suga was quoted as saying. 'There has been no territorial dispute to be resolved over the Senkakus.'

However, Suga also said that 'we haven't changed our stance that Japan will promote concrete cooperation with neighboring countries and regions to ensure peace and security in the East China Sea.'

In his interview with Kyodo News, Ma said Taiwan is currently considering the possibility of pursuing an agreement with China on the fishing issue, following an accord signed with Japan in April to regulate fishing in waters near the islands in the East China Sea.

The signing of the agreement has been well received in the United States, Europe and Latin America because no country in the world wishes to see war and turmoil, said the president.

The purpose of an agreement with China would be for the two sides to cooperate on the conservation and management of marine resources, he said.

'We understand why China is hesitant to start such talks because they don't want the international community to see cross-strait relationship as one of state-to-state,' Ma said.

'But it is not a state-to-state relationship, but a special relationship,' he said.

(By Jay Chen and Jamie Wang)
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