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KMT leaders applaud Wang Jin-pyng's frigate trip

Condemning the government for not defending Taiwan's territorial rights, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday stood behind its vice chairman, Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) for making a controversial trip to disputed waters near the Diaoyutais on Tuesday.

"The rights of Taiwanese fishermen have been violated, but the DPP government has been weak and helpless. It cannot guarantee the fishermen's rights or defend the sovereignty of the nation," said KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) yesterday during the party's weekly Central Standing Committee meeting.

At the meeting, Wang reported on his trip to the Diaoyutais. During the trip, Wang and a group of pan-blue legislators accompanying him held a press conference expressing their view that the Diaoyutais are under Taiwan's jurisdiction.

Taiwan, Japan and China all claim jurisdiction over the group of islands.

Since earlier this month, the government's handling of the situation has sparked criticism from the pan-blue camp, given the fishing industry's protests against Japan's claim to the islands and their surrounding waters.

While Wang's trip was criticized by the pan-green camp as being a political move to consolidate support for his bid to become the KMT's next chairman, Lien praised Wang yesterday.

"It was a solemn and key move for the legislature to take action to support the fishermen. The KMT not only highly supports [the trip], but also encourages the legislature to continue using such active methods," Lien said.

Wang is running in the July 16 election for the KMT's top post.

In addition to Lien, Wang's rival for the KMT chairmanship, Taipei City Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) also expressed approval of Wang's trip yesterday and called on President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) to make a similar gesture affirming Taiwan's right to the Diaoyutais.

"I support Wang's actions because this has nothing to do with individual reasons or the chairmanship election. Instead, it deals with the nation's territorial rights and the rights of the fishing industry," Ma said.

"Regardless of how the outside world interprets this event, it is significant for the administration and for the fishing industry," Ma said.

The Coast Guard Administration and the navy should work together and communicate with the fishing industry, in order to prevent "conceding" disputed territories to the Japanese, Ma said.

In addition, Chen should make a public declaration in his capacity as president, stating that the Diaoyutais are the territory of the Republic of China, he said.

Otherwise, he added, the outside world might see a lack of action on the part of Taiwan as tacit agreement that it considers the Diaoyutais to be Japanese territory.
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