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DPP criticizes KMT over recall of envoy

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday said that the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government had overreacted by recalling the nation’s representative to Japan.

Koh Se-kai (許世楷) was recalled on Saturday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) over the sinking of a Taiwanese fishing boat sank last Tuesday following a colliding with a Japanese patrol vessel in the waters near the Diaoyutai (釣魚台) islands.

“The government should have been more cautious regarding the dispute between the two countries. The recall of the representative in Japan is an overreaction,” DPP Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) told reporters yesterday.

The government initially took no action in response to the incident but criticism for perceived weakness led it to overeact by recalling Koh, Tsai said. She said she was concerned about the government’s ability to handle the dispute.

Koh’s return marks the first time in recent years that Taiwan has recalled its representative to Japan. Koh was appointed as the top representative to Japan in July 2004 by then-president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).

DPP Caucus Whip William Lai (賴清德) yesterday said his party was concerned the government’s action may damage the relationship between Taiwan and Japan.

Lai said that the KMT government had not followed diplomatic norms, noting that negotiations should precede a decision to recall a representative.

The government seemed to have shifted all responsibility for the incident to Koh, and took the opportunity to replace him, Lai said.

Although the government can replace Koh at any time, it was unacceptable to use the incident as an excuse to ease him out, Lai said.

At a separate setting yesterday, American Institute in Taiwan Director Stephen Young said the US would not interfere in the dispute.

“As the US has good relations with both Taiwan and Japan, we do not want to step into the problem,” Young said in response to reporters’ questions. “I don’t think that is necessary.”

Young said he regretted that someone was hurt in the accident and that the Taiwanese boat sank but said he was confident the dispute could be resolved amicably.

“I think Taiwan and Japan are able to solve the problem peacefully through dialogue as the two countries have been so closely connected in history,” he said.

The incident has sparked renewed discussion on the sovereignty of the Diaoyutais, which are claimed by Taiwan, China and Japan. The waters around the island group have traditionally been used by Taiwanese fishermen.

Taiwan and Japan held a round of fishing industry talks in July 2005 to try to resolve recurring disputes and agreed to hold the next round of dialogue in March 2006, but the talks never took place.

Yonghe (永和) People First Party councilor Huang Hsi-lin (黃錫麟) yesterday said he was leading a team of 10 people to Diaoyutai to claim Taiwan’s sovereignty of the islands.

His boat was due to depart from Taipei County’s Shenao (深澳) at 10pm.

He said the team might land to raise the nation’s flag on the island, but added he hoped the protest would be peaceful.
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