BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – NEWS reaching this publication states that spokesmen of the US State Department had publicly shown their appreciation for the South China Sea Peace Initiative proposal made by Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-jeou.
President Ma made the proposal on May 26 in Taipei at the 2015 International Law Association – American Society of International Law Asia – Pacific Research Forum, where he called on all parties concerned in the long-standing dispute over claims to the South China Sea.
The Initiative urges the concerned parties to exercise restraint in the South China Sea; observe relevant international law, including the UN Charter and UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and settle disputes peacefully, while jointly guaranteeing freedom of navigation and overflight; ensure that all important actors are included in measures such as a maritime cooperation mechanism or code of conduct; shelve sovereignty disputes and cooperate on the development of resources; and establish coordination mechanisms for nontraditional security issues such as scientific research, environmental protection, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
Speaking with a senior staff member of the ROC’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, SKNVibes was apprised of the history in relation to the islands in the South China Sea and their surrounding waters.
For many years, there have been disputes among surrounding countries of the South China Sea which have escalated to increased tensions in that region and had raised concerns from countries outside of that block.
The Taiwanese Government had however reiterated that the Nansha (Spratly) Islands, Shisha (Paracel) Islands, Chungsha Islands (Macclesfield Bank) and Tungsha (Pratas) Islands, as well as their surrounding waters, are an inherent part of ROC territory and waters, whether in terms of historical, geographical or international law perspective.
The senior staff member said that those islands in the South China Sea were first discovered, named, used and incorporated into national territory by the Chinese people.
“The ROC recovered the islands from Japan after World War II. In addition, the San Francisco Peace Treaty, which entered into effect on April 28, 1952 and the Treaty of Peace between the ROC and Japan signed that same day, plus other international legal instruments, all reconfirmed that the islands and reefs in the South China Sea occupied by Japan should be returned to the ROC. After de facto practices of many decades, that the ROC owns and exercises effective control over these islands has been recognised by the international community,” the senior staff member said.
He recalled that President Ma had proposed the East China Sea Peace Initiative to deal with disputes in that Sea and its related sovereignty issue concerning the Diaoyutai Islands.
“That initiative,” he explained, “not only proved to alleviate friction in the region but also facilitated a fisheries agreement signed by the ROC and Japan in April 2013, based on the concept that even though sovereignty cannot be divided, resources can be shared collectively.”
The senior staff member declared that that agreement had ended a 40-year-old fisheries dispute between the ROC and Japan, and that it had been widely affirmed and recognised by the international community.
He noted that by the same token, the Taiwanese Government is upholding the basic principles of safeguarding sovereignty, shelving disputes, pursuing peace and reciprocity, and promoting joint development, and is willing to exploit resources in the South China Sea in collaboration with the other parties concerned.
“The ROC is also prepared to actively participate in related dialogue and cooperation mechanisms, so as to resolve disputes through peaceful means, safeguard regional peace and promote regional development,” he added.
The senior staff member also noted that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, and opined that the countries surrounding the South China Sea should learn the past lessons and commit themselves to advancing regional peace and prosperity.
He claimed that the Taiwanese Government is “always willing to work with the other parties concerned to implement the concepts and spirit of the South China Sea Peace Initiative with an eye to resolving disputes and developing resources jointly”.
The senior staff member is of the strong view that by so doing, it would make the South China Sea a “Sea of Peace and Cooperation” similar to the East China Sea.
