President Ma Ying-jeou is proposing a South China Sea Peace Initiative to put aside differences and tensions in the region. Ma spoke on Tuesday at a Taipei forum on international law.
Ma said, “Basically, the Republic of China hopes to be a responsible stakeholder and original peacemaker. We emphasize that ‘while sovereignty cannot be divided, resources can be shared’, thereby ‘replacing sovereignty disputes with resources sharing’. So we propose that disputes be shelved and development proceeds jointly with integrated regional planning and zonal development. We demand that ‘freedom of navigation and of flying’ be respected in the South China Sea.”
Ma had previously proposed a similar East China Sea Peace Initiative in August 2012.
Several countries, including Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, China and Vietnam, claim all or parts of the islands in the South China Sea. Ma said that Taiwan has an indisputable historic, geographic and legal right to the area. He said Taiwan’s sovereignty extends over the Spratly, Paracel, Macclesfield and Pratas Islands in the region.
Ma said he hopes the South China Sea can be like the East China Sea and become a sea of peace and cooperation.