President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday called on all concerned parties to establish an East China Sea code of conduct in response to China’s move to assert its territorial claims in the region via the establishment of an air defense identification zone (ADIZ).
The proposed code of conduct would regulate the use of space and waters in the area and would be established via multilateral negotiations to address disputes over China’s zone, he said, adding that the concerned nations should work together to promote cooperation and achieve regional peace.
“To deal with the rising tensions in the East China Sea ... countries in the region should seek a consensus and set up a code of conduct to jointly develop the area’s resources,” he said yesterday at an international regional security conference in Taipei.
China’s zone has sparked worry in the region because it includes the Diaoyutai Islands (釣魚台), which which lie about 120 nautical miles (220km) northeast of Taipei, and are claimed by Taiwan, China and Japan, which calls them the Senkaku Islands.
Despite Beijing’s demand that it be notified about any flights or vessels passing through the zone, a US military aircraft has flown through the demarcated area, and Japan and South Korea have also sent military aircraft into the ADIZ recently.
Shortly after Beijing announced the zone in November last year, Ma reiterated Taiwan’s sovereignty over the Diaoyutais, while promoting the adoption of his East China Sea peace initiative, which urges all concerned parties to resolve territorial disputes through negotiations.
Ma reiterated the call to implement his initiative at yesterday’s conference, saying that it offers a creative solution to the territorial disputes.
He also stressed the government’s efforts to promote peace across the Taiwan Strait under his administration, citing the recent meeting between Mainland Affairs Council Minister Wang Yu-chi (王郁琦) and China’s Taiwan Affairs Office Minister Zhang Zhijun (張志軍) in Nanjing, China — the highest-level meeting ever held between officials from the two sides of the Strait.
Responding to the president’s statements on the East China Sea, Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Ma Xiaoguang (馬曉光) yesterday said that both sides of the Strait have a mutual responsibility to uphold the “fundamental interest of the Zhonghua people (中華民族).”
Beijing has said many times that the peoples on either side of the Strait are one family and it behooves both sides to look after the interests of the other, he said.
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
NATIONAL SECURITY: Authorities are working to confirm the identities of the military personnel involved and investigating possible illegal conduct and regulatory violations Authorities are probing possible national security implications after Kinmen police and immigration officers on Sunday found a Chinese woman allegedly posing as a tourist while engaging in prostitution involving more than 10 military personnel. The woman, surnamed Chen (陳), has since been deported, authorities said, adding that investigators are still working to confirm the identities of those implicated, as the records only listed code names and aliases. The case stemmed from a report received by the Kinmen District Prosecutors’ Office on Friday last week from the Jinhu Precinct of the Kinmen County Police Bureau. On Sunday, police, along with the National Immigration
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
STAY COOL: The HPA recommended that people stay hydrated, use air-conditioning or fans while indoors, wear loose-fitting clothes and walk in the shade while outdoors Employers must implement measures such as installing cooling equipment, and providing drinking water and rest breaks for outdoor workers starting from Monday next week, the Taipei Department of Labor said on Sunday. Employers who fail to comply could face fines of NT$30,000 to NT$300,000 under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (職業安全衛生法), the department said. Businesses in Taipei employing fewer than 100 workers, as well as registered self-employed workers with labor insurance coverage, could receive on-site assessments and guidance from occupational safety consultants to help them apply for central government subsidies to implement or improve heat-protection measures, it said. Under the Ministry of
RSS