European parliamentarian welcomes Taiwan's stance on East China Sea - Hoofdinhoud
A member of the European Parliament supports the Republic of China's call for resolving territorial disputes over the Diaoyutai Islands in the East China Sea through international law, saying it is the only way to resolve the fracas.
Hans Van Baalen, vice chairman of the European Parliament-Taiwan Friendship Group and president of Liberal International, said in a meeting with President Ma Ying-jeou that he hoped China and Japan, which also claim the island group, will understand that international law is the only way to resolve the dispute.
Ma said he agreed with Baalen's views, and voiced appreciation for a statement made by the European Union's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton in the wake of rising tensions over the disputed islands. "The EU urges all parties concerned to seek peaceful and cooperative solutions in accordance with international law, in particular the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea," the statement said.
"Such a view is identical to the East China Sea Peace Initiative I proposed on Aug. 5," Ma said.
Under the initiative, Ma calls for all claimants to put aside their differences and jointly develop the resources in the area. Tensions have grown since Sept. 11, when Japan nationalized the island group by purchasing three islets from their private owner.
The move sparked protests in China and Taiwan, and the Chinese continue to send marine surveillance ships to the area. Japanese media reported that four Chinese marine surveillance ships entered its territorial waters around the Diaoyutai Islands, called the Senkakus in Japan, Friday morning, the ninth time Chinese vessels have entered the area since Sept. 11.
(By Kelven Huang, Tsao Heng and Lillian Wu)