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Taiwan-Japan fishery deal step forward in peace initiative: Ma

ROC Central News Agency

2013/04/17 17:01:19

Taipei, April 17 (CNA) President Ma Ying-jeou said Wednesday that the signing of a fishery pact between Taiwan and Japan is a prelude to a settlement of the two sides' dispute over the Diaoyutai Islands and the first step in fulfilling his East China Sea Peace Initiative.

Speaking at the opening of a seminar on the Diaoyutai Islands, Ma also said the signing of the agreement also was an important step forward in helping protect the rights of fishermen in the two countries.

Ma said the agreement reflected the spirit of the peace initiative he first proposed on Aug. 5, 2012, which called on all concerned parties to settle the territorial dispute over the islands through peaceful means and to not fuel tensions.

The president also proposed substantive measures to solve the dispute, including holding separate rounds of bilateral talks among Japan, China and Taiwan and then a trilateral negotiation.

Movement in that direction has already taken place, Ma said, citing the Taiwan-Japan agreement on fishing rights, which will allow Taiwanese fishermen to work freely in waters closer to the disputed islands, and fishery and joint oil exploration deals signed by Japan and China.

Despite the lack of cooperation between Taiwan and China in the East China Sea, the two sides have collaborated in disaster relief exercises, which has also strengthened the foundation for cooperation among the three sides, he said.

Ma said he and the government have always believed that while national sovereignty cannot be divided, natural resources can be shared.

Based on this idea, all concerned parties should work toward reducing tensions over sovereignty disputes and promoting regional peace by jointly developing and sharing resources, the president said.

The proposed East China Sea Peace Initiative, Ma said, has received strong support from international media and scholars as the best approach to settling disputes in the East China Sea.

Tensions over the Diaoyutais have simmered since last September, when Japan nationalized three of the Diaoyutai Islands, known as the Senkakus in Japan, angering Taiwan and China, which also claim sovereignty over the islets.

Beijing acknowledges Taiwan's jurisdiction over the islands, but claims them because it also claims sovereignty over Taiwan.

(By Kelven Huang and Y.L. Kao)