Taiwan's perspective on disputed islands

I wish to provide Taiwan's perspective in response to Dr Andy Ho's article ("What solution to China-Japan maritime dispute?"; May 9).

Geophysically, the Diaoyutai islands are undersea extensions of mountain ranges of the same island chain as Pengjia Islet of Taiwan.

Historically, the islands were officially incorporated into Qing China's territory in 1683, and placed under the jurisdiction of Kavalan Office (present-day Yilan county in north-east Taiwan).

The islands were not terra nullius when the Japanese Cabinet on Jan 14, 1895 secretly granted Okinawa prefecture permission to establish a national marker on the islands as a means of annexation. Japan's claim of sovereignty over the islands by virtue of "occupation" is invalid abinitio.

In addition, a national marker was erected by Japan only in 1969, following the eruption of the islands dispute.

The argument that Taiwan did not contest Japan's occupation of the islands from 1895 to 1971 is not true.

In 1895, the Diaoyutai islands appertaining to Taiwan were ceded to Japan according to the Treaty of Shimonoseki. As those islands became Japanese territories between 1895 and 1945, no other country challenged Japanese use of the islands.

After World War II, calls were made for Taiwan to be restored to the Republic of China, via the 1943 Cairo Declaration, the 1945 Potsdam Proclamation, the 1945 Japanese Instrument of Surrender and the 1952 Treaty of Peace.

Between 1945 and 1972, the Diaoyutai islands were under United States trusteeship. During this period, our fishermen used these islands undisturbed.

On May 26, 1971, the US government officially notified Taiwan that it would restore to Tokyo the islands' administration rights acquired from Japan, but made clear it would not jeopardise Taiwan's sovereignty claim, a stance affirmed by the US Senate. Moreover, as the US armed forces assisted in defending the Taiwan Strait according to the 1954 Mutual Defence Treaty, there was no need for us to negotiate with the US on the issue.

Since 1968, however, as disputes arose, my government has repeatedly claimed sovereignty and lodged numerous diplomatic protests with Japan.

To uphold regional stability, President Ma Ying-jeou proposed the East China Sea Peace Initiative in August 2012, calling upon all parties concerned to shelve disputes and promote joint development in the surrounding waters of Diaoyutai islands.

In the spirit of the initiative, Taiwan and Japan signed a fisheries agreement in April last year - a fitting display of how parties in a territorial dispute can work together to safeguard the peace and prosperity of the region.

This article was published on May 20 in The Straits Times.

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