President Ma Ying-jeou met on the evening of September 2 at the Presidential Office with scholars and experts participating in the Third International Symposium on the Diaoyutai Islands Issue. During the meeting, the president reiterated that the ROC resolutely maintains its sovereignty over the Diaoyutai Islands. He added that if there is no way that the dispute over the islands can be solved, he hopes that the parties involved in the dispute can work together to develop and share the resources surrounding the Diaoyutais. He said he is confident that this is an important way to seek a peaceful resolution to the dispute.
The president remarked that the Diaoyutai Islands issue involves not only international law, but also regional security and the development of resources. The president pointed out that the scope of dialogue has been expanded from the past, with experts and scholars from Japan, mainland China, and South Korea invited to take part in this year's meetings. This, he said, is quite a positive development.
President Ma stated that disputes over territory, maritime boundaries, and resources exist in a number of places around the world. Some successful examples of negotiation have been seen, and he said he hopes that East Asian nations can turn to historical experience to find a resolution to the issue, he said.
President Ma explained to the guests that a maritime text dating back to 1403 in China mentions the Diaoyutai Islands, and during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties envoys were sent many times to Okinawa to enthrone new kings. Logs of these events indicate the geographic position of the Diaoyutai Islands, the president said. Meanwhile, General Hu Zongxian (胡宗憲), a high ranking military official during the Ming Dynasty who was renowned for his role in fighting pirates, included the Diaoyutai Islands within the nation's naval defense perimeter. During the Qing Dynasty the imperial censor Huang Shujing (黃叔璥), who authored an encyclopedia on Taiwan, wrote as follows: "Beyond the mountains is a vast ocean. To the north there are the Diaoyutais, where over 10 vessels can be anchored." Also, Kavalan Prefecture Administration Office , located in modern-day Yilan County (in northeastern Taiwan), quoted this phrase from Huang's encyclopedia, which indicates that the Diaoyutai Islands were included in the nation's naval defense perimeter during the Ming and Qing dynasties. In addition, our fishermen have been using the islands to shelter from storms. Consequently, the Diaoyutai Islands have always been part of China's territory regardless whether you approach the situation from the standpoint of history, geography, geology, or external relations.
President Ma commented that Japan in the 19th century developed a keen interest in the islands. In January 1895, the Japanese cabinet decided to annex the islands. However, Japan did not release a statement at that time to announce its action. It was not until 1902 that an official statement to this effect was released. In April 1895, the president stated, China and Japan signed the Treaty of Shimonoseki, under which Taiwan, the Penghu Islands, and the Diaoyutai Islands were ceded to Japan. However, in 1945 when Japan surrendered to China, it should have returned the Diaoyutais to China along with the other territories it had seized.
President Ma said that the stance of the ROC government is extremely clear with regard to the sovereignty dispute. The ROC, he said, maintains sovereignty over the Diaoyutai Islands. However, we have advocated the position that "the sovereignty dispute can be shelved and the parties involved can jointly develop and share the resources surrounding the Diaoyutais." The president said that he is confident that solving the dispute in this manner will make a major contribution to regional peace and stability.
The president stated that in the 1960s, countries including Germany, the United Kingdom, Norway, and Belgium were able to reach an agreement to settle disputes over territorial waters in the North Sea. Demarcation of the North Sea was completed in 1965, he pointed out, which paved the way for Scotland to produce the world famous Brent crude oil. The president therefore said that he hopes East Asian nations can use peaceful means to resolve the dispute over the Diaoyutai Islands.
President Ma also stressed that when he was younger he participated in the movement to protect the ROC's sovereignty over the Diaoyutais. He said his opinion on the matter hasn't changed over the decades. Consequently, issues concerning territory and sovereignty are extremely grave matters and it is impossible that there will be any changes. Nonetheless, he stated that he has always believed that historical topics should be looked at based on the facts, and that grudges and resentment should be set aside. Consequently, the Diaoyutai Islands dispute will not impact the friendly relationship between the ROC and Japan, he said.
The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by National Chengchi University Vice President Dr. Bih-jaw Lin (林碧炤) to meet President Ma. Also attending the meeting was National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Chih-kung Liu (劉志攻).