April 9, 2016
President Ma unveils monument on Pengjia Islet to peace in the East China Sea
President Ma Ying-jeou reiterated ROC sovereignty over the Diaoyutai Islands, unveiled a monument to peace in the East China Sea, and commemorated the third anniversary of the Taiwan-Japan fisheries agreement April 9 during a visit to Pengjia Islet. Northeast of Taiwan, Pengjia Islet is the closest of the Three Northern Islets to the Diaoyutai Islands, all part of ROC territory.
The fisheries agreement is a tangible result of the East China Sea Peace Initiative, announced by President Ma August 5, 2012. In the past, fishermen from the port of Su’ao in northeastern Taiwan operating near the Diaoyutai Islands were constantly interfered with by Japanese authorities, culminating in the sinking of a Taiwanese fishing boat after it was rammed by a Japanese patrol vessel. Despite 16 rounds of fisheries talks between Taiwan and Japan, no concrete results were forthcoming. In 2012, Japan unilaterally declared it was “nationalizing” the Diaoyutais, triggering severe anti-Japanese protests in mainland China.
In this light, President Ma put forward the East China Sea Peace Initiative, emphasizing the concept that sovereignty cannot be divided but resources can be shared in the hope that all parties concerned will strive to resolve confrontations through peaceful means. Japan accepted this approach and Taiwan-Japan fisheries talks were immediately resumed, resulting in the conclusion of the milestone fisheries agreement April 10, 2013.
The fisheries talks reflected the spirit of the peace initiative by replacing confrontation with dialogue and shelving disputes, and also constitute one of the three sets of bilateral dialogue proposed by the initiative. The fisheries agreement is a model pact in that it makes no concessions on sovereignty while achieving great progress in fishing rights, and has since contributed greatly to peace and stability in the region.
The two sides first discussed fishing rights and then defined areas of dispute, gradually reaching consensus and realizing the goal of peaceful coexistence. Their sovereignty claims were unaffected by the agreement due to the inclusion of a without prejudice clause. Since the agreement took effect, Taiwan fishermen have operated without interference in waters covering approximately 74,000 square kilometers.
The two sides also formed a joint fisheries committee in May 2013, stipulating related operational rules, such as alternating time periods and areas for fishing operations, reinforcing the mutual trust mechanism.
Since taking office in 2008, President Ma has worked hard to further deepen bilateral ties, stressing that Japan is a special partner of Taiwan. Exchanges across the board have been both cordial and close, based on increased mutual trust and friendship. In recent years, Taiwan and Japan signed numerous accords in such areas as investment, aviation, youth exchanges, the establishment of Taiwan’s branch office in Sapporo, and mutual assistance in disaster relief.
By resolving long-term fisheries disputes, Taiwan and Japan have contributed to regional stability and security, highlighting the ROC’s proactive role as a peacemaker and responsible stakeholder, which has been welcomed by the international community.
The situation was very tense when President Ma visited Pengjia Islet in 2012 to emphasize ROC sovereignty over the Diaoyutai Islands. The monument the president unveiled on this trip represents the current situation and the hope that it will last forever.
The president was accompanied by the heads of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of the Interior, Coast Guard Administration, and Council of Agriculture’s Fisheries Agency; scholars; and journalists from home and abroad.
Resource: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Republic of China (Taiwan)