Fri, May 31, 2013 page8

• [ LETTERS ]

  • • 
    • 
    • 

  Overlapping oxymoron

  Two days in a row (Monday and Tuesday) the Taipei Times claimed that the shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman on May 9 occurred in the “overlapping exclusive zones” belonging to Taiwan and the Philippines. Thing is, the areas where the Taiwanese and Filipinos are allowed to fish are either “overlapping” or they are “exclusive”: They can’t be both, as these words are opposite in meaning.

  Indeed, if you check out the “exclusive economic zone” Wikipedia page you will see that, according to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) the exclusive economic zones belonging to Taiwan and the Philippines do not overlap.

  Indeed, according to this UN agreement, the Taiwanese fisherman was deep within the Philippine exclusive economic zone, which is consistent with reports that the boat was only 50 nautical miles (92.6km) from the islands of Batanes and Balintang.

  This, of course, does not mean that the Philippine Coast Guard had the right to fire on the vessel, but it does mean that the fishermen were fishing in violation of international law.

  The problem is, of course, that Taiwan was not a signatory to UNCLOS — China was. This means that when China spoke out against the Philippines, it was simply manipulating the situation to drive a wedge between Taiwan and the Philippines.

  If China truly considered the Taiwanese fishermen to be “their” fishermen, then China should have apologized to the Philippines for allowing “their” fishermen to fish in Philippine waters.

  Of course, it is ridiculous that Taiwan did not have a say in a treaty that affects it and this is why Taiwanese fishermen have seen fit to ignore UNCLOS and fish wherever they want and, to a certain extent, the Philippines has let them, seeing as how Taiwanese Coast Guard Administration boats have been patrolling as far south as the 20th parallel. However, when the Taiwanese fishing boats crossed the 20th parallel, the Philippine Coast Guard responded.

  I don’t approve of the way they responded, but I acknowledge that they had the right to respond because where the Taiwanese fishermen were was an area that could potentially be fished by Philippine fishermen.

  I feel that it may be too late for the Taiwanese media to correct this error and admit that, according to international law, the Taiwanese fishing boat was actually deep within the Philippine exclusive economic zone. I recall that there was one report on May 17 that admitted that Taiwan’s exclusive economic zone was “self-imposed” and not something that had been worked out as an agreement between nations.

  Perhaps the Philippines would be willing to cede Taiwan the waters outside of Philippine territory and above the 20th parallel as an act of good will. However, if Taiwan wanted that, it would have made more sense for Taiwan to have responded positively to the Philippine’s initial apology and used that as a basis for further negotiations. It seems to me that an opportunity was lost and that the Philippines is going to want something from Taiwan in return if it is going to agree to negotiations on fishing rights.

  Martin Phipps

  Greater Taichung

  Evictions set bad example

  I read with a heavy heart the continuing tales of forced eviction, a government without conscience using authority to set a bad example to its people.

  You have authority because the laws which you put in place give you the right to do what you think best (want), correct? Well if you believe that, OK, but just because there is nobody bigger in town to hold you to task does not excuse the misery you bring to the very people you are supposed to represent.

  The US overused its authority in the 1970s and 1980s until it ran out of friends and wanted to be part of the global club again.

  Don’t take something because you can take it; that’s how empires were built, and they were taken using the bayonet and the bullet, not higher authority in the universe, as was claimed.

  What you say represents less than 10 percent of what people understand when you talk to them; body language is the biggest communicator followed by tone of voice. The actions that you use against people when you evict them tell all of us that you are ruthless, despite the words of nonsense that come our way. If you really want to understand something, say it to yourself in its simplest form; this is called “Occam’s razor.” When you throw people out onto the street and offer them no help or compassion, you commit what is called a legal crime: If anybody else tried to do this they would be held to account.

  Cruelty can be felt flowing through your body when you see an act that triggers the brain to respond. It is not intelligence, just what we call common sense.

  I lived under former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher and she was as ruthless to her own people as her enemies, which is not a sign of intelligence. She took livelihoods away from whole communities and had nothing to offer in return. Intelligent people always take with one hand, but give with the other.

  So I ask this government to lead by good example, not rules which are in your own favor. A good example means always considering the pain you inflict on others.

  If you just respond to the rule of financial gain, you will destroy yourself — please look to the banks in the West.

  Think what it is to be human, and set your people an example that they can be proud of. Are you in charge because you are more ruthless or intelligent?

  Cruelty is nothing to be proud of, and don’t invoke the law as an excuse. You can change the law, but the behavior remains the same, just what you see. We tell the story of The Emperor’s New Clothes to children, but we need to use it every day. Reality is what you can see, not the excuse you can hear.

  I would like to end with a quote from George Orwell: “To see what is in front of one’s face is a constant struggle.”

  We can all see what you are doing. If you ask your children, maybe they will tell you the truth.

  Peter Cook

  Greater Taichung
• Most Popular

  • 1

    Napoli’s title hopes shaken by late Genoa equalizer

  • 2

    Privately owned city in Kenya taking on corrupt officials

  • 3

    MOE to encourage foreigners to work in Taiwan

  • 4

    Kane tastes first title as Bayern bid farewell to Mueller

  • 5

    Former president Tsai departs for Lithuania