Minister of Foreign Affairs Timothy Yang (楊進添) yesterday rejected the possibility that Taiwan and China would join hands in asserting sovereignty over the disputed Diaoyutai Islands (釣魚台), an idea proposed by Chinese academics on Wednesday.
“The Republic of China’s position has been that we do not join hands to act together with mainland China in our dealings on the Diaoyutai Islands issue. On this issue, we have our stance and national interests,” Yang said.
A report in the China Daily, a mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party, on Wednesday quoted Zhu Wenqi (朱文奇), a law professor at Renmin University and former member of the International Court of Justice, as saying that Taiwan and China should “work together” against Japan on the issue because they “share the same stance.”
China and Taiwan should together “push Japan to start negotiations and even jointly develop the region with its rich fishing and tourism resources,” Zhu was quoted as saying.
The paper also quoted Feng Zhaokui (馮昭奎), a Japanese studies researcher with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, as saying “the dispute with Japan actually may help to strengthen cross-strait ties.”
On Wednesday, Huang Hsi-lin (黃錫麟) and two other members of the Chunghua Baodiao Alliance, achieved what they described as “a great success” by getting a fishing boat within 0.8 nautical miles (1.48km) of the Diaoyutais, under the escort of five Republic of China Coast Guard Administration (CGA) patrol vessels. The voyage drew a sharp reaction from Japan.
During a standoff with three Japanese patrol ships, Japanese maritime police attempted to get on board the fishing vessel, but were prevented by coast guard personnel. A Japanese patrol ship then bumped into a CGA vessel as the fishing boat was surrounded by the five CGA vessels on their way back to Taiwan, the Coast Guard Administration said.
It was only learned later that the activists carried with them the People’s Republic of China five-starred flag, rather than a flag of the Republic of China (ROC). The footage provided by the alliance showed they tried to raise the flag, but it ended up floating in the sea.
Asked about the flag, Huang said he forgot to bring an ROC one.
China’s reaction to Huang’s stunt came at a regularly scheduled press conference held by Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Liu Weimin (劉為民) in Beijing.
“The Diaoyu Islands and its affiliated islands have been China’s inherent territory since ancient times. China has indisputable sovereignty over them. China will continue to take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard its sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands. We have urged the Japanese side not to take any actions that might endanger the safety and property of Chinese personnel, including compatriots from Taiwan,” Liu said when asked for a comment.
Chu Jingtao (褚靜濤), an assistant fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences’ Taiwan History Research Center, reportedly said the event marked the first time both sides of the Taiwan Strait showed an act of tacit cooperation in the fields of politics and diplomacy.
In related developments, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taipei yesterday protested to Japan after learning that six city councilors from Ishigaki, Okinawa Prefecture, inspected waters surrounding Beisiao Island (北小島, known as Kitakojima in Japan).
Wire agency reports quoted a Japanese coast guard official as saying one of the politicians and another person dove off a fishing boat, swam to the island and stayed there for about 90 minutes.
Yang called on the Japanese government and personages in all circles not to provoke “unnecessary” troubles and disturb the stability of the region.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old