Illustration: Sun Ying

 

Editor's Note:

 

The Diaoyu Islands dispute touches the nerves of many in China. Facing rising tensions with Japan, there is a growing clamor for national cohesion and cooperation across the Straits. However, it seems rather difficult for Taiwan authorities to accept this. How should we interpret Taiwan's position over the Diaoyu Islands? Is unifying all Chinese to defend sovereignty possible? Two scholars share their views with the Global Times.

Forty years ago, the US unilaterally transferred to Tokyo the administration of the Diaoyu Islands and adjacent islets, which belong to China. Soon after the handover, movements organized by Chinese students abroad spread vigorously in US and Canadian colleges and universities to safeguard the Diaoyu Islands.

Many Chinese professors on US campuses tirelessly wrote articles to present historical evidence of Chinese territorial claim to these islands.

That year, I was the president of the Diaoyu Islands Movement Committee of the University of Washington. Most of the students, myself included, came from Taiwan and Hong Kong, but our cohesion as Chinese was apparently consolidated due to the astonishing move of the Nixon administration.

A big rally in Seattle was held, joined by more than 1,000 Chinese participants. We walked toward the Japanese consulate general in Seattle, and presented our letter of protest, requiring the return of the Diaoyu Islands to China.

Back then, the Taiwan leadership dared not to take a tough line with the US and Japan, as the latter two were influential over keeping Taiwan's UN membership. However at the grass-roots level, all Chinese were uniting. Later on, several Taiwanese graduates from US universities, who were very active in the student movements to safeguard Diaoyu, went to work in the Chinese delegation at the UN.

The Chinese activists' landing on Diaoyu in mid-August reminded me of that chapter of history. Over the past four decades, regional dynamics have undergone a great shake-up. China should make a major endeavor to break the Diaoyu impasse.

Japan is facing colossal pressure in its domestic economic recovery. The current Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda is facing severe political challenges. Meanwhile, diplomatically, Japan is facing off with three neighbors over island claims. It has disputes over the Southern Kuril Islands, known by Japan as the Northern Territories, with Russia, and over the Dokdo islets, Takeshima in Japanese, with South Korea. Both Moscow and Seoul are tough with Japan, and their top leaders have arrived on these disputed islands to claim sovereignty.

China's relatively restrained attitude is being taken advantage of by Japan in comparison. Nevertheless, Japan, ferocious in appearance but inwardly feeble, will not dare risk a war with China over the Diaoyu Islands.

As to the Chinese side, when the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan join hands to protect Diaoyu Islands, more communication and collaboration are needed between authorities and civilians to safeguard the islands. It is difficult for Taiwan authorities to hold high-profile discussions with the mainland over joint protection of Diaoyu, but the two sides can still reach tacit agreements.

China must firmly insist on protecting its sovereignty over Diaoyu, so as to guarantee Chinese rights of fishery and seabed exploration in its waters, as well as the nation's strategic position.

China has been upholding a peaceful solution to the disputes. At the same time, China also needs the confidence and determination to fight back if Japan repeatedly provokes it. Otherwise, China's restraint might be interpreted by Japan as weakness, which will undermine its peace-keeping efforts.

The author is a social activist and former president of the Diaoyu Islands Movement Committee at the University of Washington, Seattle. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn