Facing rising concerns posed by the East China Sea situation, President Ma Ying-jeou proposed the East China Sea Peace Initiative on August 5, based on the principle of “safeguarding sovereignty, shelving disputes, pursuing peace and reciprocity, and promoting joint exploration and development.” He called upon all parties concerned to demonstrate restraint and avoid escalating confrontational acts, to shelve controversies and not abandon dialogue, to respect international law and deal with disputes through peaceful means, to seek consensus and draft a East China Sea Code of Conduct, and to establish a mechanism for cooperation on exploring and developing resources in the East China Sea.
These guidelines are proposed to enhance the effectiveness and impact of the East China Sea Peace Initiative.
I. Implementation
The East China Sea Peace Initiative is to be implemented in two stages:
1. Peaceful dialogue and mutually reciprocal negotiation
This stage involves promoting the idea of resolving the East China Sea dispute through peaceful means, and establishing channels for Track I and Track II dialogue and encouraging all parties concerned to address key East China Sea issues via bilateral or multilateral negotiation mechanisms in order to bolster mutual trust and collective benefit.
2. Sharing resources and cooperative development
This stage involves institutionalizing all forms of dialogue and negotiation and encouraging all parties concerned to implement substantive cooperative projects and establish mechanisms for joint exploration and development of resources that form a network of peace and cooperation in the East China Sea area.
II. Key issues
1. Fishing industry—Convening bilateral and multilateral fishing industry meetings and other forms of fishing industry cooperation and exchange, and establishing a mechanism for fishing industry cooperation and administration.
2. Mining industry—Promoting joint exploration in the territorial waters to the north of Taiwan and establishing a mechanism for joint exploration, development and management.
3. Marine science research and maritime environmental protection—Conducting multi-national marine and ecological research projects pertaining to the East China Sea.
4. Maritime security and unconventional security—Implementing bilateral and multilateral law enforcement exchanges and marine rescue agency cooperation, and establishing a collaborative marine security and crime-enforcement mechanism.
5. East China Sea Code of Conduct—Implementing mechanisms for Track I and Track II dialogue and negotiating mechanisms for resolving disputes through peaceful means that will bolster mutual trust and encourage all parties concerned to sign the East China Sea Code of Conduct.
III. Implementation Objectives
In its role as a facilitator of peace in the international community, the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has proposed the East China Sea Peace Initiative and its implementation guidelines in the sincere hope that all parties concerned replace confrontation with negotiation, and set aside their controversies by means of temporary measures, so as to maintain peace and stability in the region. Over the long run, we can move from three parallel tracks of bilateral dialogue (between Taiwan and Japan, Taiwan and the Chinese mainland, and Japan and the mainland) to one track of trilateral negotiations and realize peace and cooperation in the East China Sea.
【Source: Office of the President】