Taipei, Sept. 10 (CNA) Japan has "misappropriated" the Tiaoyutai Islands, which belong to the Republic of China, a fact that cannot be altered by Japan's purchase of the islands from their so-called landlord, President Ma Ying-jeou said at a conference of the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) Tuesday.

Ma reiterated Taiwan's proposal to share the natural resources of the Tiaoyutais with China and Japan -- which also claim sovereignty -- but stressed that ROC sovereignty over the islands is non-negotiable.

On the same occasion, the president also expressed thanks to KMT Honorary Chairman Lien Chan for winning a promise from Chinese President Hu Jintao to study seriously the possibility of Taiwan obtaining access to the International Civil Aviation Organization.

Lien broached the issue during a meeting with Hu while attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum's leadership summit in the Russian city of Vladivostok last week.

As a founding member of the ICAO, it would be fair for the ROC to return to the organization, Ma said.

The country lost its ICAO seat after it lost its U.N. membership to the People's Republic of China in 1971.

(By Li Shu-hua and Maubo Chang)
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