Lai urges restraint after Chinese coast guard sails through Diaoyutai Islands

Taipei, Nov. 17 (CNA)President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Monday urged China to exercise restraint and not be a troublemaker disrupting regional stability, after a Chinese coast guard fleet sailed through waters off the contested Diaoyutai Islands.

"I would like to urge the international community to continue watching China's hybrid attacks on Japan," Lai told reporters in Taipei. "I also urge China to show restraint and act in a manner befitting of a great nation and not be a troublemaker for regional peace and stability."

He was responding to questions about reports that a China Coast Guard (CCG) fleet had entered the territorial waters of the Diaoyutai Islands, also known as the Senkaku Islands, which are claimed by Japan, Taiwan, and China.

"[China] ought to abide by the rules-based international order, thus promoting regional development and prosperity," Lai said. "Let's hope that China will exercise prudence."

On Sunday, the CCG said it was patrolling the area legally and was upholding China's rights. The move was widely viewed as a reaction to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's statement on Nov. 7 that a Chinese attack on Taiwan would amount to "a situation threatening Japan's survival" and could trigger a military response from Tokyo.

Asked to comment Monday on former President Ma Ying-jeou's (馬英九) remarks the previous day that Takaichi's statement was "reckless," Lai said, "I'd like to urge domestic politicians, particularly those in the opposition parties, to respect Japan's domestic politics and refrain from negatively interpreting Japan's political work."

Lai noted that United States Ambassador to Japan George Glass had recently expressed support for Takaichi, saying in a social media post that her statement had served to bolster Japan-U.S. relations.

Meanwhile, President Lai said Monday that high-ranking opposition members in Taiwan should unite with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) against foreign threats.

"We belong to different political parties, so rivalry is unavoidable, but we are from the same country," Lai said. "Faced with threats by a foreign hostile force, we should take a united stance rather than making excuses for the aggressor."

He was responding to reporters' questions about a recent comment made by Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜)of the opposition Kuomintang after the president called on him to stand up for a DPP legislator, who has been listed as "wanted" by China for "secessionist" activities.

The DPP lawmaker Pumy Shen (沈伯洋) is under investigation by China's Chongqing Municipal Public Security Bureau on allegations of "secession-related" criminal activities in Taiwan, including the launch of a civil defense organization called Kuma Academy, according to a report published last month by China's state-run Xinhua News Agency.

When called on to speak up in support of the lawmaker, Han blamed Lai for the situation, saying that the president should first retract his statement in March in which he categorized China as a "foreign hostile force."

Han also said that Lai, who chairs the DPP, should address the problem at its source by taking immediate steps to revoke or suspend the clause in the DPP charter that advocates "Taiwan independence" through the founding of a "Republic of Taiwan."

On Nov. 9, a Chinese legal expert said on China's state-run CCTV that Shen should be pursued through the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) and mutual judicial assistance agreements with foreign countries.

To date, Beijing has not indicated whether it will take such action, while Interpol maintains a policy against issuing Red Notices for cases involving political, military, religious or racial matters.