United Daily News Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
July 26, 2016
Executive Summary: The Tsai regime recently proposed turning Taiping Island into a "humanitarian rescue center". Yet it refused to permit its own fishermen to land on the island. Out of one side of its mouth, the Tsai regime issues grandiose boasts. Out of the other side, it orders government agencies to erect barriers to prevent Taiwan fishermen from defending their fishing rights. How ridiculous is that?
Full Text Below:
After six days at sea, fishermen from the Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau regions finally arrived on Taiping Island to proclaim their fishing rights. Ironically, the Tsai regime blocked their way, and prevented them from landing. Eventually crewmen aboard the three vessels cited a lack of drinking water and the need for emergency shelter. As a result, the Tsai regime grudgingly permitted them to make a symbolic landing, but only on the dock next to the boats. Boats carrying reporters from Hong Kong were not allowed to set foot on the island. These shenanigans showed that the DPP government's ringing proclamations about “love for Taiwan”, “defense of fishing rights”, and “defense of sovereignty” are nothing more than empty talk.
From beginning to end, the Tsai regime obstructed this attempt by fishermen from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau to proclaim sovereignty. Originally a dozen or more fishing boats were supposed to participate. But the Department of Fisheries threatened boat owners with fines, impoundments, and license revocations. This forced half of them to withdraw. Once the fleet approached Taiping Island waters, the Ministry of Defense declared that Taiping Island was a "military control zone" requiring a 45 day waiting period, and refused to permit the fishermen to land. In fact the requirement applied only to aircraft wishing to use the landing strip on the island. After long drawn out negotiations, the fishermen finally cited exigent circumstances. Only then were they permitted to berth. The military continues to forbid fishermen from landing on the island. The reporters from Hong Kong are required to remain on the boats.
The South China Sea “ruling” demoted Taiping Island to the status of a "reef". The Tsai regime, having misjudged the situation, fell silent and willingly endured the humiliation. Its conduct raises questions about the ability and determination of the Tsai regime to defend the nation's territory. When private citizens launched protests against the unfair “ruling”, the Tsai regime resorted to bureaucratic stonewalling, leaving the public incredulous. Only two explanations are possible. First, the US government has tightened the screws on Tsai, out of fear that the fishermen's actions will attract attention from the international community. The second is that the Tsai regime itself is indifferent about whether Taiping Island is demoted to the status of a reef, and therefore feels no need to proclaim its sovereignty.
No matter which reason is the real reason, the Tsai regime has painted itself into a corner. First, consider the international strategic picture. Maintaining friendly relations with the United States may be important. But the ROC must not reflexively cave in to any and all US demands. It must not sacrifice its national interests and national dignity. The South China Sea “ruling” demoted Taiping Island's status. It undermined our territorial sovereignty, our nation's image, and our nation's morale. The President should encourage private citizens to register their discontent with the South China Sea “ruling” to the international community. This would reflect public opinion on Taiwan towards the South China Sea dispute as a “claimant country”. But the Tsai regime, as expected, groveled before foreign powers. Worse still, it humiliated its own fishermen in front of foreigners. It behaved like a spineless invertebate.
Second, consider the legitimacy of the national leadership. The Tsai government mobilized various agencies to prevent Taiwan fishermen from affirming out fishing rights. It attitude was bureaucratic. Its justifications were absurd. Its rhetoric was unconvincing. The Taiwan public was shocked. Obviously the Department of Fisheries and the Ministry of Defense were carrying out orders issued by superiors. Obviously they were not acting on their own initiative. Otherwise their actions would not have been so closely coordinated. Clearly the relentless interference reflects national policy. According to the polls, nearly 70% of the Taiwan public thinks President Tsai should land on Taiping Island and proclaim our sovereignty. It is bad enough that she has refused to do so. Worse still, she has ordered government agencies to prevent private citizens from doing so. How are people supposed to interpret her actions? How can they respect a leader such as this?
Third, the fishermen's spontaneous affirmation of fishing rights has attracted enormous attention, both at home and abroad. By contrast, the DPP regime's attempt to smear the fishermen and reporters from Hong Kong as “Communists”, is seen as an attempt to draw attention from the real issue. Executive Yuan spokesman Tong Cheng-yuan said that fishermen landing on the island would not have much impact on the international community. Anyone landing without permission, would merely invalidate our national sovereignty. This assertion is patently absurd. In fact, three reporters from Hong Kong, plus three reporters from Taiwan drew considerable international attention to the trip. They published photographs of the vessels bedecked with ROC flags, and of the captain dressed in an eye-catching ROC flag shirt. Unfortunately, Tsai regime obstructionism caused the BBC, Sing Tao Daily, Ta Kung Pao to focus on how Taiwan authorities made things difficult for Taiwan fishermen. Basically, the DPP regime shot itself in the foot.
Only three reporters from Hong Kong took part in the voyage. Why? Mainly because the Department of Fisheries required reporters to have "crew cards". This kept many reporters from Taiwan from participating. In fact, all three Phoenix TV reporters originally hailed from Taiwan. But they were inexplicably smeared as “Communists”. Clearly the DPP “Cultural Revolution” has escalated to the point where truth no longer matters. The Tsai regime invoked "fear of leaked military secrets" as reason to forbid reporters from landing on the island. But when it imposes such authoritarian measures, what right does it have to mock the Mainland authorities?
The Tsai regime recently proposed turning Taiping Island into a "humanitarian rescue center". Yet it refused to permit its own fishermen to land on the island. Out of one side of its mouth, the Tsai regime issues grandiose boasts. Out of the other side, it orders government agencies to erect barriers to prevent Taiwan fishermen from defending their fishing rights. How ridiculous is that?
愛台灣、護漁權，難道全是空話？
2016-07-27 聯合報
經過六天航行，赴太平島宣示護漁權的漁民終於抵達。諷刺的是，在政府部門一路阻撓下，入港的三艘漁船最後是以「缺水」、「緊急避難」為由獲許停靠，船員僅能在船邊踱步象徵「登島」，其他載有港媒記者的船隻則不得靠岸。這些幕前幕後，暴露了民進黨政府自詡愛台、護漁、護主權的宣示全是空話。
這次漁船的宣示行動，一路飽受政府打壓。原本有十多艘漁船報名，在漁業署揚言罰款、扣船、吊照的威嚇下，半數被迫打了退堂鼓。在船隊駛近太平島海域後，國防部還以太平島是「軍事管制區」為由，聲稱必須四十五天前申請才能登島（這其實是申請搭機登島的規定），拒絕漁民上岸。幾經交涉，漁船最後以緊急避難為由申請靠泊，軍方仍不許漁民登島，同行港媒記者則只能留在海上。
南海仲裁案我太平島被矮化為「礁岩」，政府誤判形勢在先，又默默噤聲、自甘吞忍於後，讓人質疑蔡政府護土的能力和決心。如今，民間自主發動護漁，抗議仲裁不公，政府卻又祭出官僚手段百般阻撓，實讓人百思不解。可能的解釋只有兩個：一是蔡政府迫於美方的壓力，唯恐漁民的行動引起國際社會注目；二是蔡政府本身對太平島遭矮化並不在乎，因此不覺得宣示主權是必要之舉。
不論是上述哪一個原因，都顯示蔡英文政府已逐漸陷入一個自縛手腳的泥沼。第一，從國際戰略的角度看，與美國保持友好關係固然重要，卻不表示台灣必須一味屈從，甚至要賠上國家利益和國格。太平島遭到矮化，使得領海主權受損，國家形象和士氣皆受挫折。在這種情況下，蔡英文總統本來應該鼓勵民間發聲，讓社會不滿南海仲裁的聲音發出來，這才能反映台灣作為南海爭議「聲索國」（Claimant Country）的嚴正立場。孰料，政府不僅一味媚外，更打壓漁民給外人看，表現像個軟骨動物。
第二，從國家領導的正當性看，蔡政府動用各部門阻撓漁船的護漁權行動，不僅態度官僚、理由荒謬，更缺乏說服力，在在讓民眾感到錯愕。不難想像，漁業署和國防部的相繼阻撓，必然都是奉承高層的指示而為，而非出於部門官員之主動，否則動作不會如此齊一。也因此，這一連串的干擾，也必定被解讀為國家領導人的政策方針。根據民調，有近七成的民眾認為蔡總統應親登太平島以宣示主權，她避不親為也就罷了，若竟還指示各部門竭力阻撓漁船登島，試想，民間將如何解讀其立場？又如何尊重這樣的領導人？
第三，從國內外的宣傳效果看，漁民自發宣示漁權，令人刮目；相對的，民進黨政府企圖「抹紅」漁船和隨行港媒，則反而使此行的意義失散了焦點。行政院發言人童振源稱，漁民登島對國際社會不會有太大的宣示效果，任何人未經許可即登島，國家主權將蕩然無存；此話根本大錯特錯。事實上，由於三名港媒隨船加上國內媒體不斷報導，不少國際媒體不僅關注此行，並刊出船上掛滿國旗、船長身著國旗裝的醒目照片。遺憾的是，因為一路折騰，包括ＢＢＣ、星島日報、大公報一度都將報導重點放在「台灣當局刁難」。這樣的反效果，不正是民進黨政府自己造成的？
更何況，船上之所以僅有三名港媒記者隨行，主要是漁業署要求登船記者必須持有「船員證」；如此一來，阻卻了許多原本有意前往的台灣記者。事實上，那三名鳳凰衛視的記者皆出身台灣，卻莫名遭到抹紅，可見民進黨的政治打壓已到了不問黑白的地步。而蔡政府以唯恐「洩漏軍機」為由禁止記者登島，這種威權管制手法，又與它譏嘲的中共政府有何兩樣？
蔡政府日前研商太平島角色，決議推動該島成為「人道救援中心」；如今，卻拒絕本國漁民登島。這種邊說大話、邊耍小手段的作風，不嫌太荒謬嗎？
No comments:
Post a Comment