Taipei, Sept. 28 (CNA) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Tuesday reiterated Taiwan's claim to sovereignty over the disputed Tiaoyutai islands amid rising tensions between China and Japan over the issue, and urged the involved parties to peacefully resolve the issue.
"We don't want to see any unilateral behavior that would worsen the dispute. The Republic of China (ROC) government urges all parties involved to set aside disputes and collaborate on the development of the region, " MOFA spokesman James Chang said at a press briefing.
Chang's comment came after China and Japan were reportedly planning to step up efforts to solidify their sovereignty claims over the islands, which lie about 100 nautical miles off Taiwan's northeast tip in the East China Sea.
According to media reports, China is planning to send vessels to execute regular patrols and strengthen its presence around the Tiaoyutais, known as the Diaoyutais in China and the Senkakus in Japan.
Japan's Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima urged the Japanese government Monday to strengthen security in waters around the Tiaoyutais, saying they are part of the prefecture's territory and adding that he would like to inspect the uninhabited islets.
The longstanding dispute over the islands was set off by the arrest of a Chinese fishing boat skipper after his trawler and two Japanese Coast Guard vessels collided on Sept. 7. The incident led to a diplomatic row between China and Japan, with the United States also involved.
Responding to a reporter, Chang denied that the ROC's claim was compromised by the international incident, saying that Taiwan's position has been firm on the issue and that the islands are "indisputable ROC territory."
Asked what concrete action Taiwan will take to "avoid being marginalized in multilateral discussion, " Chang said: "We have issued five statements and have held high-level inter-agency meetings since the incident. We have also been monitoring every development, including the remarks on the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty and military drills in the region."
Taiwan recognizes that the spirit of the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty is aimed at maintaining peace and stability in the region, but "to our knowledge, the U.S. does not take any position on the issue of sovereignty over the Tiaoyutai Islands, " he added.
After the Sept. 7 incident, Taiwan summoned Japan's top envoy, Tadashi Imai, on Sept. 13 to address the dispute. The MOFA said Sept. 14 that Taiwan "is not siding with China" on the issue after two Taiwanese activists abandoned their protest near the disputed islands when their action was thwarted by Japan's coast guard. (By Chris Wang) enditem/bc