[Politics] President: Japan-Philippines EEZ Delimitation Talks Will Not Affect Taiwan's Rights; The Only Threat is China's Expansion
bellala 央廣3h ago
Regarding the delimitation talks for the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) between Japan and the Philippines, President Lai Ching-te stated today (18th) during a tea reception with foreign media that all international disputes over rights and interests should be handled in accordance with international law and relevant international norms. Taiwan has signed fisheries agreements with both Japan and the Philippines and has established communication channels to ensure that national interests and the rights and interests of fishermen are not affected. The President said that the sole and greatest risk and threat in this matter is China, which intrudes into the economic waters of Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines under the guise of law enforcement, but whose actual purpose is expansion. He called on the international community to take joint action to deter China's illegal activities.
President Lai Ching-te held a tea reception with international media on the morning of the 18th. Reporters asked President Lai about his stance on Japan and the Philippines announcing the launch of EEZ delimitation talks, and about the recent increase in activities by Chinese coast guard and maritime authorities in the relevant waters. They also asked what specific measures President Lai would take to respond.
The President stated that all international disputes over rights and interests should be handled in accordance with international law and relevant international norms, just as Japan and the Philippines are handling overlapping areas of their exclusive economic zones, or as Taiwan has handled fishing rights issues in its economic waters with Japan and the Philippines in the past. All these are handled in accordance with the "United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea" and relevant regulations. He also pointed out that according to the "Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties," negotiations on delimitation between Japan and the Philippines cannot and will not affect the rights and interests of third parties.
The President also said that Taiwan has signed fisheries agreements with Japan and the Philippines, and there are established communication and contact channels between Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines regarding fishing rights. The Coast Guard Administration and other relevant units also operate in accordance with these agreements. As a sovereign state and a responsible member of the region, Taiwan will ensure that national interests and the rights and interests of fishermen are not affected, in accordance with international norms and bilateral agreements with Japan and the Philippines.
The President emphasized that, to date, the sole and greatest risk and threat to our country and neighboring countries such as Japan and the Philippines in this matter is China, which intrudes into the economic waters of Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines under the guise of law enforcement, but whose actual purpose is expansion. The President said that according to international conventions, China is not a "coastal state" in this region and has no right to make any claims in this area. Recent harassment in the gray zone by the Chinese coast guard has caused regional unease and further highlights China's increasingly evident ambition for expansion in the Western Pacific.
The President stated that based on the sovereign rights granted by the "Exclusive Economic Zone" provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, our country will fully defend its sovereignty, protect maritime security, and ensure the safe passage of international vessels without illegal harassment or threats. He also called on the international community to recognize the serious and immediate harm that China's illegal actions have caused to regional peace and stability, and to take joint action to deter such illegal behavior. (Editor: Song Wanyuan)
Source Link: https://www.rti.org.tw/news?uid=3&pid=215303
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