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President to unveil peace monument on islet near Diaoyutais

ROC Central News Agency

2016/04/08 17:22:50

Taipei, April 8 (CNA) President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) will unveil a monument to his East China Sea peace initiative when he visits an islet near the disputed Diaoyutai Islands Saturday, ahead of the third anniversary of a historic agreement between Taiwan and Japan to address fishing disputes in their overlapping waters.

Ma will host the unveiling ceremony on Pengjia Islet, situated just over 30 nautical miles north of the northern Taiwan city of Keelung and 76 nautical miles west of the Diaoyutais in the East China Sea.

Under the administrative jurisdiction of Keelung City, Pengjia Islet is Taiwan's northernmost territory that is closest to the contested island chain.

After he arrives on the islet on an S-70C helicopter, the president will inspect a weather observation station and a patrol station, as well as tour a lighthouse. He will then unveil the monument of his East China Sea peace initiative and give a speech.

Ma last visited Pengjia in September 2012, during which he laid out the details of his East China Sea peace initiative.

Ma came up with the peace proposal in August 2012 amid escalating spats among countries in the region over the Diaoyutais, known as the Senkakus in Japan.

While reaffirming Taiwan's claim to the Diaoyutais, Ma also called for all claimants to shelve their differences, pursue peace and reciprocity and jointly explore the resources in the area.

The uninhabited Diaoyutais, some 100 nautical miles northeast of Taiwan, have been under Japan's administrative control since 1972 but are also claimed by Taiwan and China, which calls them the Diaoyu Islands.

In an effort to address fishing disputes in waters near the Diaoyutais, Taiwan and Japan signed a fishery agreement April 10, 2013. Under the terms of the agreement, Taiwanese and Japanese fishermen are allowed to fish in a designated area in the region.

Ma's visit to Pengjia Islet will come just one day before the anniversary of the agreement. He will be accompanied by senior government officials from the Ministry of the Interior, the Council of Agriculture and the Coast Guard Administration.

Personnel from the Coast Guard, the Customs Administration and the Central Weather Bureau are stationed on Pengjia.

(By Hsieh Chia-chen and Elaine Hou)
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