President Ma Ying-jeou met on the afternoon of December 5 with former US Deputy Secretary of State James B. Steinberg. In addition to elaborating on substantive progress in Taiwan's relations with the United States and the international community over the past five years, the president again urged that neighboring countries and mainland China engage in bilateral negotiations on the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the East China Sea announced by mainland China. President Ma said that dialogue and negotiations should be used to solve this dispute so that the East China Sea can again be a "sea of peace and cooperation."
In remarks, the president noted that Mr. Steinberg, who currently serves as the dean of the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, has a wealth of academic theory and practical experience. He has served in such important posts as Deputy Secretary of State and Deputy National Security Advisor in the White House, for example, and has also served as Vice President at the Brookings Institution, the president said. Mr. Steinberg has a thorough understanding of Taiwan, President Ma commented, adding that he admires the longstanding work that Mr. Steinberg has carried out in formulating policies that have been beneficial to Asia and Taiwan.
Mentioning relations between Taiwan and the United States, the president stated that over the past five years the United States has sold Taiwan arms worth over US$18.3 billion. In addition, in November of last year the United States formally included Taiwan in its Visa Waiver Program, he said. Furthermore, he pointed out, the two sides in February of this year inked a new version of the Agreement on Privileges, Exemptions and Immunities, while in March Taiwan and the United States resumed negotiations under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA). All of these developments constitute concrete progress in the areas of security and economic cooperation between the two sides, he said.
The president explained to Mr. Steinberg that former Vice President Vincent C. Siew (蕭萬長) last week led a delegation of high-level business leaders to the United States to further promote bilateral economic and trade relations. President Ma also called for the signing of a bilateral investment agreement as soon as possible. Furthermore, in October of this year former Vice President Siew attended the 21st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting and held bilateral discussions with US Secretary of State John Kerry. The two exchanged opinions on Taiwan's desire to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership, he said.
President Ma stated that the ROC has always been a peace-loving nation and desires to resolve disputes in a peaceful manner. He mentioned that in April of this year Taiwan and Japan signed a fisheries agreement which resolved a 40-year fishing dispute between the two countries. In August, he said, Taiwan and the Philippines also carried out fishing-related discussions, reaching an initial consensus that either side, prior to enforcing laws relating to fishing operations, would notify the other of its intention, and would avoid the use of force. President Ma also noted that a preliminary resolution has been reached in the case of the Guang Da Xing No. 28 shooting incident, in which a Philippine government vessel fired at a Taiwanese fishing boat, damaging the boat and killing a fisherman.
As for US Vice President Joe Biden's visit to mainland China to exchange opinions with leadership there on mainland China's announcement of an ADIZ in the East China Sea, President Ma stated, the ROC in the 1950s established an ADIZ, about 23,000 square kilometers of which overlap with the ADIZ announced by mainland China, so after mainland China announced its ADIZ in the East China Sea, the ROC government immediately issued a statement reiterating the ROC's sovereignty over the Diaoyutai Islets and urging all nations in the area to refer to the East China Sea Peace Initiative, which was put forward by the ROC in August of last year to urge the peaceful resolution of disputes.
President Ma further explained that mainland China did not consult with Taiwan prior to announcing its ADIZ in the East China Sea. This was not at all conducive to positive cross-strait relations, he said, adding that the ROC military's training exercises in the area will not be influenced by the mainland's action. Also, he stated, Taiwan is in charge of the Taipei Flight Information Region (TFIR), and if an airline whose flights pass through the TFIR intends to provide flight plans to mainland China, Taiwan would like for them to submit the plans to the Taiwan government, which will then forward the plans to mainland China. Taiwan will provide this service, he said, adding that in fact when civilian aircraft from Taiwan are to pass through Japan's Flight Information Region, Taiwan provides flight plans to the Japanese authorities because the foremost priority of Taiwan is to ensure the safety of civil aircraft and the wellbeing of passengers.
Lastly, President Ma reiterated that Taiwan looks with serious concern on mainland China's announcement of an ADIZ in the East China Sea, adding that Taiwan is also concerned about whether mainland China will make similar moves in other areas. President Ma called once again upon all neighboring nations to hold bilateral negotiations with mainland China to discuss areas that overlap with the mainland's ADIZ, and said that dialogue and negotiations should be used to resolve this dispute so that the East China Sea can once again be a "sea of peace and cooperation."