Peace Initiative for the South China Sea

Peace Initiative for the South China Sea
China Times Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
November 24, 2015

Executive Summary: President Ma Ying-jeou has said that he will implement his South China Sea Peace Initiative at an opportune time. Now is an opportune time. During moments of conflict, peace becomes an international imperative. The ROC and the Philippines have signed cooperation agreements on law enforcement. Overall planning and regional implementation of the South China Sea Peace Initiative has already begun. The road map includes three principles: upholding the constitution, respecting international law, and promoting international cooperation. These three principles explain our national policy and merit our continued support.

Full Text Below:

The world's attention is focused on the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in Paris. Nevertheless the South China Sea situation remains a matter of global concern. US warships and long-range bombers have repeatedly entered the South China Sea. The US has declared its determination to “uphold freedom of navigation”. Japan also says it will send warships into the South China Sea. An international tribunal has ruled against Mainland China on the matter of South China Sea islands and reefs, provoking unease in the Mainland media. The dispute will impact the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation council meeting recently concluded on the 19th. Mainland China Premier Li Keqiang proposed five initiatives to resolve the South China Sea issue during the East Asia Summit convened on the 22nd. He presented Mainland China's bottom line, including both carrots and sticks. Storm clouds now hang over the South China Sea.

The Sino-US struggle has threatened the security of neighboring countries in the South China Sea. The ROC Constitution is clear. Taiping Island is under our jurisdiction. The ROC is a stakeholder, but we are denied a voice in international fora. We are denied a voice in bilateral and multilateral organizations. We are denied the opportunity to voice our policy. This may leave us even more marginalized, to the detriment of our sovereignty over Taiping Island. We must make ourselves heard within the international community. We must fight for our rights. Since 2008, the role of the ROC in East Asia has been that of peacemaker. This gives us an opportunity to become involved in the South China Sea.

With regards the disputed waters, our long-standing policy has been that "sovereignty cannot be divided, but resources can be shared". It has been to address the matter of resource use and management first, in order to cool emotions. Then, when the time is right, return and address the sovereignty issue. Our position has enabled us to play an important role in resolving the East China Sea dispute.

In August 2012, President Ma advanced his East China Sea Peace Initiative. He urged the disputant nations to reduce tensions and initiate dialogue in order to facilitate a peaceful settlement of disputes. The folowing year, in April 2013, the ROC and Japan signed a fisheries agreement. This was an important implementation of the East China Sea Peace Initiative. Since the signing of Taiwan-Japan fisheries agreement, almost no fishing disputes have arisen, and catches have significantly increased. The two sides have shelved territorial disputes. The international community has acknowledged this contribution to the resolution of East China Sea disputes.

This year, in May 2015, President Ma advanced his South China Sea Peace Initiative. He urged all South China Sea disputant nations to reduce tensions and initiate dialogue, and reach a peaceful resolution to the dispute. On November 5 the ROC and the Philippines signed a fisheries law enforcement cooperation agreement. This established law enforcement cooperation mechanisms, an emergency notification system, and a speedy release mechanism to guard against a repeat of the Kuang Ta Hsing No. 28 tragedy, during which fishermen from Taiwan were shot dead by Philippine Coast Guard personnel.

The ROC has adopted a policy of self-restraint and peaceful settlement of disputes. But it remains unshakable regarding matters of sovereignty. On September 1, 2014, President Ma Ying-jeou issued his South China Sea Islands Map, based on international law. On May 26, 2015, he issued his South China Sea Peace Initiative. On July 7, 2015, he issued his Republic of China Position on the South China Sea Issue. On October 31, 2015, the Republic of China government reaffirmed its position regarding the South China Sea dispute. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release affirming ROC sovereignty over four island chains in the South China Sea. These claims rooted in history and jurisprudence.

Our sovereignty over these Pacific islands is a matter of record, and not subject to distortion by other nations.

In more cautious terms, such disputes inevitably involve constitutional provisions regarding our territorial sovereignty. There is no room for concessions. This is why our position remains firm. We cannot allow outside forces to intervene in the recent South China Sea dispute. We must confront these challenges head on.

Officially the United States has condemned the Chinese mainland for its land reclamation projects. It has raised the issue of freedom of navigation. But the US government says it will not choose sides in territorial and sovereignty disputes among other countries. On this point, it deserves praise and encouragement. It should continue this policy of not choosing sides. Whether to choose sides in the South China Sea dispute has become an important issue for the ROC

The Ma Ying-jeou government's national security policy is "remain close to the US, remain friendly with Japan, and remain at peace with the Mainland". It illusrates the need to address these disputes over surrounding waters. Any bias will arouse suspicions or provoke an intense backlash. The ROC is committed to promoting peace. Bias would be unwise. Carefully maintaining a balance between Taipei-Washington relations and cross-Strait relations is conducive to our national interests. It is also important for stable regional development. Therefore choosing sides is not consistent with our policy interests in the South China Sea dispute.

President Ma Ying-jeou has said that he will implement his South China Sea Peace Initiative at an opportune time. Now is an opportune time. During moments of conflict, peace becomes an international imperative. The ROC and the Philippines have signed cooperation agreements on law enforcement. Overall planning and regional implementation of the South China Sea Peace Initiative has already begun. The road map includes three principles: upholding the constitution, respecting international law, and promoting international cooperation. These three principles explain our national policy and merit our continued support.

我應提出南海和平倡議路徑圖 2015年11月24日 中國時報 全球聚焦巴黎恐怖攻擊的後續發展，但並未降低南海賽局形勢的危險性與全球的高度關切。美國軍艦與長程轟炸機多次進入南海，宣示維持海上航行自由的決心，日本亦聲稱將派遣軍艦進入南海巡邏；國際法庭關於南海島礁管轄權仲裁案的裁決結果不利中國大陸，引發大陸媒體的焦慮感。19日剛剛結束的亞太經合會受到南海議題的糾纏；22日召開東亞峰會，大陸總理李克強提出南海議題五倡議，軟硬兼施表達了中國的底線，南海風雲詭譎。 中美角力下，南海周邊國家安全情勢受到威脅，我國憲法對南海主權有明確的規範，現實政治上太平島為我國管轄範圍，我為相關利益一方，但受到國際活動空間的制約，無法透過雙邊或多邊機制表達我國的政策與立場，很可能使台灣更加邊緣化，進而損害太平島權益。我應戮力在國際社會發聲，爭取應有的權益。2008年以來，台灣在東亞區域政治中所扮演的積極和平角色，已為介入南海賽局開啟機會之窗。 我國海洋政策中對於涉及周邊海域爭端的立場，一向秉持著「主權不能分割、資源可以共享」原則，亦即先解決資源利用和管理的問題，藉以緩和爭議，待適當時機再行處理主權議題。此一立場在東海爭端的解決過程中扮演了重要的角色。 馬總統在2012年8月提出「東海和平倡議」，主張相關國家降低緊張、展開對話，以和平方式解決爭端；隔年（2013）4月我國與日本簽署漁業協議，這是落實「東海和平倡議」的重要發展，重要的是台日漁業協議簽署後，幾乎沒有發生對抗性的漁業糾紛，漁獲量明顯增加，雙方擱置領土島嶼爭議的作法，被國際社會視為東亞海域糾紛獲得解決的重大進展。 今年（2015）5月，馬總統提出「南海和平倡議」，呼籲南海相關國家降低緊張、展開對話，以和平方式解決爭端。11月5日台菲簽署了漁業事務執法合作協定，建立執法合作機制、緊急通報系統以及迅速釋放機制，保障日後不致於發生如「廣大興28號」事件，台灣漁民遭菲律賓海巡署人員槍殺的悲劇。 我國雖然採取自我克制的和平解決爭端原則，對於島嶼主權的主張立場卻絲毫未有動搖，馬英九總統於2014年9月1日發表有關我國「南海諸島位置圖」的國際法意涵、2015年5月26日發表「南海和平倡議」內容、與外交部分別在今年（2015）7月7日所發布的「中華民國對南海問題之立場聲明」以及10月31日的「中華民國政府重申對南海議題之立場」新聞稿，均明白指出我國擁有南海四沙群島的島嶼主權，而且此種主權主張係植基於歷史的連結和法理的基礎。 我國在太平島上的經營事實，也不容許被他國的刻意操作而被抹煞。 更謹慎而論，主權立場無可避免涉及我國憲法中關於領土主權的規定，絕無退讓空間。也因為此一堅定立場，我國必然無法自外於近來在南海爭端的發展，此係我國所需嚴正面對的挑戰。 在國際情勢的相關發展上，美國在官方層面有對於中國大陸填海造陸的指責，也有強調保障海上航行自由的作為，但是美國政府聲明不在其他國家領土與主權議題上選邊的立場，值得吾人稱讚並鼓勵能持續堅持此一「不選邊」原則。同樣地，「是否選邊」也成為我國在南海政策上的重要思考。 馬英九政府「親美、友日、和中」的國安政策證明了在處理周邊海域爭端議題的重要性，因為在政策的選擇上若有任何的偏倚，將必然會引發另一方的猜忌，甚或是激烈反應，這對於積極依賴周邊和緩情勢的我國來說，絕對是不宜也是不智的選擇。因此謹慎地在「台美關係」與「兩岸關係」之間維持穩定平衡，不僅有利於我國國家利益的維持，亦是對於區域內穩定發展的重要根基。所以，「選邊」並不符合我國的南海政策利益。 馬英九總統曾經表示，將在適當時機提出能夠具體落實的「南海和平倡議路徑圖」，現在應當是宣布的時機。在衝突紛擾的當下，和平倡議成為國際清流，加上台菲海上執法合作協定之簽署，一個植基於「南海和平倡議」中「整體規畫、分區開發」概念的架構已然初步成形。而在維護憲法基礎、尊重國際法原則、推動國際合作等三項原則之下的「路徑圖」，不僅有利於展現我國的政策，更是值得延續的基本立場。