Taiwan clarifies stand on South China Sea dispute

This refers to Raul Pangalangan’s column “Scarborough: turning crisis into opportunity.” (Inquirer, 5/4/12) The Republic of China (ROC/Taiwan), through the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines, would like to explain its position on the South China Sea dispute.

Pangalangan wrote: “Taiwan’s intrusion shows that Scarborough is not a purely bilateral dispute as China insists. It should drive the Chinese up the law as they insist that it’s really still bilateral since, technically speaking, Taiwan is part of China.” We would like to emphasize that by the established standards of international law, the ROC meets all the requirements of statehood and is in fact a fully established democracy with a government elected and accountable to the island’s citizenry, capable of effective decision-making and of fulfilling its international obligations. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has never exercised jurisdiction and control over Taiwan; it is absolutely clear that Taiwan is not its province, nor is the government of the ROC a local government of the PRC.

Pangalangan also stated: “First, we should draw attention to the fact that both Beijing and Taipei draw the same ‘dotted-U’ line enclosing the entire South China Sea. The dotted-U was in fact originated by the Kuomintang in a succession of issuances between 1930 and 1947 when it still ruled the mainland. The dotted-U (minus a two-dotted line portion) was merely adopted by the (PRC) in 1949 when the communists took over and pushed out the Kuomintang across the channel into the island of Taiwan.”

The ROC has never redefined its territory; therefore, the position on territorial boundaries originated by the Kuomintang still applies.

Lastly, Pangalangan said: “Now that Taipei insinuates itself into the Scarborough debate, we should remind Taipei that if it forms a united front with Beijing on this issue, it is doomed to play junior partner, the perpetual ‘Mini-Me’ to Beijing’s Dr. Evil.” Dr. Shin-Yuan Lai, minister of the ROC Mainland Affairs Council, stated last April 26 that the ROC will not deal with mainland China on sovereignty disputes over the South China Sea. The speculation about Taipei forming a united front with Beijing on this issue is inconsistent with my government’s position.

The ROC would like to call on countries bordering the islands to respect the principles and spirit of the Charter of the United Nations and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and to refrain from adopting unilateral measures that might upset the peace and stability of the region and the South China Sea. The ROC upholds the basic principles of “safeguarding sovereignty, shelving disputes, peace and reciprocity, and joint exploration” and remains willing to work with other countries in exploring the resources of the South China Sea.

Furthermore, we urge the countries bordering the South China Sea to exercise self-constraint so that peaceful resolutions to the disputes can be reached through consultation and dialogue. The ROC remains willing to participate in dialogues in search of resolutions to disputes and to promote regional peace, stability and development.

—WELLINGTON WEI,

director,

Taipei Economic & Cultural Office,

Taiwan, ROC