President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday paid a third visit to the Dongsha Islands and used the occasion to call on neighboring countries to hold dialogue with Taiwan to settle territorial disputes over islands in the South China Sea, as well as preserve marine life in the region.
"As oceanic people, inhabitants of Taiwan have the obligation to protect the marine ecosystem in the region. We also urge our neighboring countries to join us in resolving sovereignty issues in a peaceful manner," he said.
The president repeated the plea he had made during his visit to the Spratly Islands two weeks ago, calling on the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia to resolve their disputes through peaceful negotiations.
PHOTO: CNA
Chen said his "Spratly Initiative" called for environmental protection to replace the political disputes and depletion of natural resources.
The president said Taiwan would respect the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea signed by ASEAN nations in November 2002 and that Taiwan looks forward to participating in the establishment of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.
The Dongsha Islands, also known as the Pratas Islands, consists of three islands located in the northeastern South China Sea. The islands are rich in rare fauna and flora.
The islands are administered by Taiwan under the jurisdiction of the Kaohsiung City Government.
In January last year, the Dongsha Marine National Park was established. It is the nation's newest and largest national park.
During his visit, Chen, accompanied by Minister of National Defense Lee Tien-yu (
He said Taiwan would continue its efforts and called on neighboring countries to join in.
The president said Southeast Asian countries should emulate the Micronesia Challenge posed by Palauan President Tommy Remengesau in 2005. Remengesau challenged the leaders of Micronesian countries to conserve 30 percent of near shore marine resources and 20 percent of forest resources by 2020.
"In the past, the Dongsha and Spratly Islands have been associated with army bases and military conflict. This mentality has overlooked the precious ecological and marine life that exists in the region," Chen said.
He said that whenever he flies to the islands, the word "fulfillment" enters his mind.
"We [the Taiwanese people] can enjoy the beauty of marine ecology without having to travel all the way to the South Pacific. To me, this is one of the greatest gifts that God has bestowed upon the Taiwanese people," Chen said.
ROLLER-COASTER RIDE: More than five earthquakes ranging from magnitude 4.4 to 5.5 on the Richter scale shook eastern Taiwan in rapid succession yesterday afternoon Back-to-back weather fronts are forecast to hit Taiwan this week, resulting in rain across the nation in the coming days, the Central Weather Administration said yesterday, as it also warned residents in mountainous regions to be wary of landslides and rockfalls. As the first front approached, sporadic rainfall began in central and northern parts of Taiwan yesterday, the agency said, adding that rain is forecast to intensify in those regions today, while brief showers would also affect other parts of the nation. A second weather system is forecast to arrive on Thursday, bringing additional rain to the whole nation until Sunday, it
LANDSLIDES POSSIBLE: The agency advised the public to avoid visiting mountainous regions due to more expected aftershocks and rainfall from a series of weather fronts A series of earthquakes over the past few days were likely aftershocks of the April 3 earthquake in Hualien County, with further aftershocks to be expected for up to a year, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. Based on the nation’s experience after the quake on Sept. 21, 1999, more aftershocks are possible over the next six months to a year, the agency said. A total of 103 earthquakes of magnitude 4 on the local magnitude scale or higher hit Hualien County from 5:08pm on Monday to 10:27am yesterday, with 27 of them exceeding magnitude 5. They included two, of magnitude
CONDITIONAL: The PRC imposes secret requirements that the funding it provides cannot be spent in states with diplomatic relations with Taiwan, Emma Reilly said China has been bribing UN officials to obtain “special benefits” and to block funding from countries that have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, a former UN employee told the British House of Commons on Tuesday. At a House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee hearing into “international relations within the multilateral system,” former Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) employee Emma Reilly said in a written statement that “Beijing paid bribes to the two successive Presidents of the [UN] General Assembly” during the two-year negotiation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Another way China exercises influence within the UN Secretariat is
Taiwan’s first drag queen to compete on the internationally acclaimed RuPaul’s Drag Race, Nymphia Wind (妮妃雅), was on Friday crowned the “Next Drag Superstar.” Dressed in a sparkling banana dress, Nymphia Wind swept onto the stage for the final, and stole the show. “Taiwan this is for you,” she said right after show host RuPaul announced her as the winner. “To those who feel like they don’t belong, just remember to live fearlessly and to live their truth,” she said on stage. One of the frontrunners for the past 15 episodes, the 28-year-old breezed through to the final after weeks of showcasing her unique