President-elect Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday reiterated her stance on the issue of sovereignty over the South China Sea, saying that she declined to send an envoy to join President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) visit to Itu Aba Island (Taiping Island, 太平島) out of respect for the constitutional system, in response to criticism from the president.
Immediately after his return from the one-day trip to the island on Thursday, Ma panned Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chao Tien-lin (趙天麟) over his remarks that the president should not take a trip to such a sensitive area in such a sensitive time, saying that the DPP is holding him back while he tried to defend Taiwan’s sovereignty over the island, adding that he was surprised that the DPP would not send an envoy.
“We have said several times that the DPP decided not to send anyone on the trip due to the constitutional system, because Ma is still the president and we respect any decision that he makes as president,” Tsai said after journalists asked her for a comment. “We would like to remind the president that he should face serious issues with a serious attitude; the way he commented on the issue is very inappropriate.”
Tsai said that she has not changed her stance on the South China Sea issue that Taiwan has sovereignty over the region, adding that the right to innocent passage whether with planes or ships should be protected.
“The disputes among claimants should be resolved through international laws and conventions,” Tsai said. “Most importantly, the disputes should be solved through peaceful means and all countries in the region, including Taiwan, have a shared responsibility to maintain regional peace and stability.”
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