Taiwan won't side with China in isle dispute with Japan: Ma

Politics Aug. 22, 2012 - 07:10AM JST ( 22 )

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22 Comments

7

CrazyJoeAug. 22, 2012 - 08:04AM JST

Lee Teng-hui, the former President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) did state in Okinawa in 2008 that the Senkaku Islands were part of Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.
-1

tairitsuikenAug. 22, 2012 - 08:28AM JST

Nice, a voice of reason (?) amidst all the hot-headed craziness going on recently. Makes sense, also - I have yet to meet a Taiwanese siding with a Chinese on any issue.

Which brings me to the question of the people leaving Hong Kong for the Senkakus the other week.

As we could all see, they branded Chinese flags (ok, one small Hong Kong flag on the boat...) and seemed to be in love with the Chinese version of the story, rather than anything Hong Kong might say about it.

Perhaps China and Hong Kong is simply the same thing nowadays ? I know they are the same country on paper, I was thinking about how people feel.

Again, Hong Kong people are not the ones most likely to look to the Chinese for advice or supporting them. Maybe the C-gov have moved enough mainlanders over the border to try to make Hong Kong more Chinese?
5

Jay QueAug. 22, 2012 - 08:56AM JST

Tokyo and DC need to recognize our ally and fellow democracy the ROC. Its a charade not to. Wars tend not to break out between democracies.
6

HonestDictatorAug. 22, 2012 - 09:09AM JST

I've got a hard time siding with China, and I think that Taiwan does too and probably see's everything that China has been doing lately is land grabbing imperialism and trying to expand an empire to feed their hunger for resources.
-1

Setsuna HenryAug. 22, 2012 - 09:53AM JST

I am side with no one. I am just an observer.
1

Patric SpohnAug. 22, 2012 - 10:10AM JST

Like most countries, Tokyo officially recognises Beijing rather than Taipei.

What does JT mean by that?
4

the-grouchAug. 22, 2012 - 10:14AM JST

I think this might infuriate China. There are no riots or looting in Taiwain. People there are taking the upper hand to act within the confines of reason. It's ashame that the Chinese are acting like a bunch of out of control monkeys. Pity... I thought they were a bit more civilized but I guess I was wrong.
-1

tomokiAug. 22, 2012 - 11:07AM JST

Taiwan knows the bust of Chinese economy is near. I hear that rich Chinese are leaving the country to get ready for the next life, after the collapse of ROC.
-1

BoredToTearsAug. 22, 2012 - 11:14AM JST

Of course, people with half a brain knew this all along. I don't know where anybody got the idea that Taiwan would ever work with China against Japan, ESPECIALLY on a territory dispute. Hell, Taiwan itself is a territory dispute with China. Maybe if people actually read some history instead of just reading comments on message boards about Japanese war crimes (made by people that weren't even born during WWII), they'd know why Taiwan isn't flying a Chinese flag.
2

Bgood41Aug. 22, 2012 - 11:44AM JST

Taiwan plays smart on this move and yet need to be seen in days to come.
-4

Tiger_In_The_HermitageAug. 22, 2012 - 01:08PM JST

Taiwan need to side with China, its already a part of China. They are just living in their Japanese colony mindset. It shows in Ma's weakness towards anything of contraversy.

@tomoki: Colapse of China has great impact on Japanese economy.

@HonestDictator: China's a bit late in the game since its been weak for so long. The West played the land grab well so their at the level they are now, without the inital land grab of earlier Western history, they might not be at where they are now.
0

akkk1Aug. 22, 2012 - 02:14PM JST

During his college days, President Ma Yingjeou was an anti-Japan Diaoyutai student activist. His position hasn't changed but as president, he has to walk a cautious line.
4

ThonTaddeoAug. 22, 2012 - 09:15PM JST

The PRC's envisioned endgame is clear: insist that the Senkaku Islands are part of Taiwan, and then later subsume Taiwan into the PRC, thus acquiring the islands in the process. I salute the government of Taiwan for standing up to the bullies in the PRC and remaining friendly with a nation that they would have something of an excuse to dislike -- Taiwan was a colony of Japan within living memory -- and keeping things civilized.

I hope to see Taiwan and Okinawa work this out without any meddling from the PRC.
-4

just-a-bigguyAug. 22, 2012 - 10:42PM JST

Ma Ying-jeou is a hypocrite, his political career begins in 1972 then an activist of anti Japan Diayoutai movement in Taiwan and he is telling everyone hands off the islands, thats mine
-4

chucky3176Aug. 22, 2012 - 11:13PM JST

How Japan reports sounds totally different from how Taiwan reports the interview. This is odd.

Taiwan's Ma, suggests the case to be submitted to International Court of Justice.

http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aIPL&ID=201208210036
2

SamuraiBlueAug. 22, 2012 - 11:57PM JST

@Chucky

If you take notice, the above mentioned article is reported by AFP and not any Japanese wiring serice.

If Taiwan wants to settle this issue in court, then fine Japan has nothing to worry about and unlike SK, since Japan declared as being a compulsory to ICJ, Taiwan does not need to ask Japan to participate since Japan is obligated to stand at trial whenever an issue is raised.
0

SamuraiBlueAug. 23, 2012 - 01:01AM JST

One question towards Taiwan's decision is what took you so freaking long to decide?

Taiwan could have made this move more than 60 years ago.
0

chucky3176Aug. 23, 2012 - 05:51AM JST

And this is Japan's official reply... lol...

< http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120709003776.htm>
0

OssanAmericaAug. 23, 2012 - 06:29AM JST

chucky3176Aug. 22, 2012 - 11:13PM JST How Japan reports sounds totally different from how Taiwan reports the interview. This is odd. Taiwan's Ma, suggests the case to be submitted to International Court of Justice. http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aIPL&ID=201208210036

AFP (Associatd Free Press) is not Japanese.
-1

chucky3176Aug. 23, 2012 - 08:36AM JST

According to Korean media, the entire Japan media conveniently failed to report on Taiwan president's comments, and only reported on his peace comments with Japan.

http://joongang.joinsmsn.com/article/aid/2012/08/23/8741295.html?cloc=olink|article|default
1

UtrackAug. 23, 2012 - 08:56AM JST

President suggests taking Tiaoyutai disputes to international court 2012/08/21 23:07:29 Taipei, Aug. 21 (CNA) President Ma Ying-jeou reiterated Monday Taiwan's sovereignty over the disputed Tiaoyutai Islands but suggested that all claimants could take the issue to an international court to seek a solution if necessary.

"We will not back off on the Tiaoyutais," Ma said in an interview at the Presidential Office with NHK, Japan's national public broadcasting organization. The interview was broadcast late Tuesday.

"We will continue missions to protect our fishermen operating in waters around the island chain," Ma said, adding that the Coast Guard Administration has dispatched vessels 10 times in the past four years to the area surrounding the Tiaoyutais.

Reiterating Taiwan's sovereignty over the island chain, Ma suggested that all claimants put aside their differences, resolve their disputes through peaceful means and try to cooperate on exploring and developing resources in the region.

He said his East China Sea peace initiative, proposed Aug. 5, is intended to urge all sides involved to exercise self-restraint and resolve the disputes peacefully.

During the interview, Ma noted that his administration has no intention of joining hands with China against Japan in the territorial dispute.

Taiwan, Japan and China have issued competing claims over the uninhabited Tiaoyutais for many years. They are known as the Diaoyutai Islands in China and the Senkaku Islands in Japan, which currently controls them.

(By Lee Shu-hua and Jamie Wang)

http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aIPL&ID=201208210036
1

nigelboyAug. 23, 2012 - 11:51PM JST

According to Korean media, the entire Japan media conveniently failed to report on Taiwan president's comments, and only reported on his peace comments with Japan.

According to Korean media......

What's believed to be the source of the article.

http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2012/new/aug/22/today-p3.htm

Taiwan Embassy in regards to the NHK interview.

http://www.taiwanembassy.org/ct.asp?xItem=303293&ctNode=1453&mp=1

Kuomintang News (KMT) in regards to the NHK interview.

http://www.kmt.org.tw/japan/page.aspx?type=article&mnum=119&anum=8116

According to the Korean media......(facepalm)