Republic of China Vessels Circumnavigate Diaoytai for the First Time in 30 Years

Republic of China Vessels Circumnavigate Diaoytai for the First Time in 30 Years
United Daily News editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
June 17, 2008

Is Diaoyutai Republic of China territory or not? If it isn't, then all we can do is bite our lips and stare at our feet. If it is, then Japanese warships may not intrude into our sovereign territory and kill our people.

The Diaoyutai incident is currently occupying center stage. Not only is it a test of the ruling KMT government, it is also a test of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party.

Yesterday's ramming incident has led to two major developments. 1. On the part of the government: Defend Diaoyutai protestors boarded a boat named the "Quanjiafu" and entered Diaoytai Island waters. Over 20 Japanese ships attempted to block them. Republic of China Coast Guard ships positioned themselves between the Japanese ships and the protestors' boat, preventing the wake from capsizing the smaller boat. They positioned themselves to both the port and starboard sides of the Quanjiafu, helping it circumnavigate Diaoyutai Island. They even engaged in a water cannon duel with the Japanese ships. 1. On the part of the DPP: Representative to Japan Koh Se-kai, an advocate of Taiwan independence, offered his resignation. He attempted to force the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to "immediately approve his resignation." Former legislator Tsai Chi-fang returned to the Legislative Yuan and said: "Only Kinmen and Matsu are Republic of China territory. Taiwan, Penghu and Diaoyutai are not."

When the ramming incident first occurred, DPP legislators screamed for blood. They declared they didn't rule out a shooting war. They declared their willingness to sacrifice their lives for their country. But as soon as the government adopted a harder line, and recalled Koh Se-kai, its Representative to Japan, DPP Chairman Tsai Ing-wen abruptly changed her tune and said the government's response was "excessive."

Koh Se-kai's reaction was even more interesting. Japan expressed "regret" over the incident, but refused to apologize. ROC Minister of Foreign Affairs Francisco Ou said that Japan's response "fell short of expectations." Koh Se-kai however said "An expression of regret is an apology" and that the matter should "be considered concluded." How can one carry on diplomacy when an ambassador has the temerity to openly thumb his nose at the Minister of Foreign Affairs?

Before Taiwan independence advocate Koh Se-kai became a public official, he maintained that Diaoyutai is Japanese territory. Chen Shui-bian appointed him Republic of China Representative to Japan. The result was what we have today, suffering on the part of our own compatriots, and rejoicing on the part of our enemy. Koh Se-kai's resignation at this sensitive moment Is tantamount to deliberately kicking his own government when it is down. It is tantamount to deliberately humiliating the Republic of China. The ramming incident allows us to discern the vast difference between the Taiwan independence movement's concept of sovereignty and foreign policy, and the Republic of China's concept of sovereignty and foreign policy. Advocates of Taiwan independence such as Lee Teng-hui and Tsai Chi-fang go so far as to assert that Diaoyutai is Japanese territory. Other advocates of Taiwan independence dare not make such open declarations. But they are reluctant to challenge Japan's claims. That is why Tsai Ing-wen opposes recalling Koh Se-kai. That is why Koh Se-kai would like to consider the matter closed. That is why Tsai Chi-fang alleges that "Taiwan, Penghu and Diaoyutai are not Republic of China territory." Their reactions provide insights into the psychological workings of these individuals.

The DPP's response to the ramming incident is distinguished by two major characteristics: 1. The speakers are determined to insult their own government and avoid condemning Japan. When the government maintains a soft line, they adopt a hard line and blast the government. When the government adopts a harder line, they abruptly reverse themselves and blast the government for "excesses." 2. The DPP uses the media to humiliate the government, but categorically refuses to participate in or support public protests against Japanese aggression. When a fishing boat was turned over to Lee Ching-hua, the DPP took to the streets, demanding that it be turned over to political protest groups. Put simply, the DPP is using the Defend Diaoyutai movement as a pretext to engage in partisan warfare against the ruling KMT. It has never viewed the Defend Diaoyutai movement as a movement to defend the nation's territory against foreign aggression.

The ramming incident has once again exposed the DPP's hypocrisy and befuddlement. Open conflict has erupted with a foreign nation. How is one to resist foreign aggression, defend national sovereignty, and maintain national dignity with such a disloyal political opposition?

The Quanjiafu convoy represents the first time in 30 years that Republic of China naval vessels have circumnavigated Diaoyutai Island. The closest they came to the island was 0.4 nautical miles. This was the first time Republic of China warships openly confronted Japanese warships and declared that "Diaoyutai is Republic of China territory." Given such developments the ruling and opposition parties must reach a new consensus regarding Diaoyutai. As noted at the beginning of this article: Since Diaoyutai is Republic of China territory. Japanese ships have no right to intrude and ram our vessels. This is the only possible conclusion the public on Taiwan can reach. There is no alternative.

This Is a dispute over territory. This is a dispute over sovereignty. If the DPP considers a Japanese ship violating ROC territorial waters and ramming and sinking an ROC fishing vessel not "excessive," then our ships escorting an ROC vessel through ROC territorial waters can hardly be considered "excessive." Still less can recalling our Representative to Japan be considered "excessive." The situation being what it is, we hope the DPP will consider the big picture. We also hope the ruling KMT will respond properly. Yesterday's decision by the Coast Guard to navigate Diaoyutai waters, was authorized by our national security system. This is the right approach. By contrast, we take exception to members of the legislature hijacking the Defense Minister and forcing him to conduct an "inspection" of Diaoyutai. In June 2005, Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng and Defense Minister Li Jye boarded an ROC ship and came within 38 miles of Diaoyutai. The Quanjiafu's private sector political gesture yesterday, along with the Coast Guard's numerous gestures are sufficient. Tomorrow's Lafayette frigate voyage is superfluous.

The Diaoyutai issue is the result of 30 years of weakness on the part of Taiwan. As a new beginning, the Coast Guard may wish to circumnavigate the island once a week. However everyone must have a well thought out plan. We must not be slapdash. We must not treat the waters around Diaoyutai as a stage for political posturing.

我國艦隻三十年來 首次繞行釣魚台一周
【聯合報╱社論】
2008.06.17 03:11 am

釣魚台是不是中華民國領土？如果不是，大家摸摸鼻子；如果是，不容日本軍艦侵入殺人。

此次釣魚台事件似正方興未艾，不但考驗國民黨政府，且也考驗著反對黨民進黨。

撞船事件昨日有兩大發展。一、政府方面的作為：保釣人士搭小船「全家褔號」進入釣魚台海域，二十餘艘日本艦艇全面阻擋，我海巡署艦隻駛入日艦與抗議船「全家福號」之間，防止「湧浪」掀翻小船，並護衛在「全家福號」左右兩側，協助其繞行釣島一周，甚至與日艦互噴水柱。二、民進黨方面的作為：有台獨背景的駐日代表許世楷遞出辭呈，逼外交部「立即准辭」；前立法委員蔡啟芳回到立法院說：只有金門、馬祖是中華民國的領土，台灣、澎湖及釣魚台都不是。

撞船事件發生之初，民進黨立委不斷燒火，一下子問是否不惜一戰，一下子說要不要為國捐軀；但是，等到政府升高姿態，「召回」駐日代表許世楷，黨主席蔡英文卻又說「有點過火」。

許世楷的反應更令人玩味。日方對事件表示「遺憾」，卻未道歉，我外交部長歐鴻鍊認為「與預期有落差」；但許世楷卻說，「遺憾就是道歉」，且認為此事應「告一段落」。「大使」公開反對部長的主張，這教對外交涉如何進行得下去？

台獨運動者許世楷在出任公職前曾主張釣魚台是日本領土，陳水扁命他擔任中華民國的駐日代表，終於落到今日這種親痛仇快的結局。許世楷在這個對外交涉的關鍵時刻辭職，不啻就是故意要對自己的政府落井下石，就是故意要給中華民國好看。從撞船事件可以看出，「台獨」與「中華民國」的主權觀念及外交策略迥然不同。就獨派觀點言，李登輝、蔡啟芳甚至認為釣魚台根本是日本的領土，其他獨派雖不敢公開作此表示，卻亦不願挑戰日本的主張。於是，蔡英文反對「召回」，許世楷主張「告一段落」，蔡啟芳說「台灣、澎湖及釣魚台都不是中華民國的領土」，皆是此類心理背景的反應。

民進黨對這次撞船事件的回應，有兩大特徵：一、一切發言，以羞辱政府為主調，但未譴責日本。在政府態度保留時，燒火挑激政府；在政府升高手段時，又奚落政府「過火」。二、民進黨只是藉媒體放話羞辱政府，但完全未參與支持民間的抗日行動；海釣船交給了李慶華，上街抗議則交給了社運團體。說穿了，民進黨只是將此次保釣事件作為朝野鬥爭的題材，而從未將此視為保領土、禦外侮的運動。

此次撞船事件，再度暴露了民進黨政治操作的偽詐及意識形態的錯亂；在對外衝突爆發之際，有這樣的反對黨，如何抵禦外侮，又如何維持國家主權尊嚴？

由於為「全家福號」護航，形同中華民國艦艇亦實現了三十年來首次繞行釣魚台一周，最接近該島處僅零點四浬左右，且亦是中華民國艦艇首次對日艦用「大聲公」宣示「釣魚台是中華民國領土」。事態發展至今日地步，全國朝野應對釣魚台問題，建立起新的認知與共識。正如文首所說：如大家認為釣魚台是中華民國的領土，就不能容日艦侵入撞船；這是台灣上下唯一的認知與共識，別無選擇。

既是領土之爭，既是主權之爭；日艦侵入撞船若非「過火」，則我艦護航亦不能謂「過火」，何況是召回駐日代表？然而，值此事態已有激化跡象之時，我們除了希望民進黨應顧全大局，亦希望國民黨執政團隊要妥善因應。昨日海巡署進入釣魚台海域的動作，當然是在事前獲得國安體系授權，這是正確的做法；相對而言，我們對於明天打算挾持國防部長前往釣魚台「視察」的立法委員卻不以為然。其實，在二○○五年六月，就曾上演過一次立法院長王金平、國防部長李傑搭艦前往距釣魚台三十八浬處「視察」的前例；如今既有昨日「全家福號」的民間行動在先，海巡署亦已作足姿態，明天的拉法葉艦之行其實是能免則免。

釣魚台問題因台灣三十年的軟弱而惡化至此，不妨即以此次海巡署艦隻繞島一周作為一個新的開始；但各方卻亦仍應有節有度，不宜過於操切，更不可把釣魚台海域當作民粹政治的舞台！