ROC President Ma Ying-jeou sent a letter to Pope Francis Feb. 5 to respond to his World Day of Peace message, which was released Jan. 1.
In his message, the pope emphasized “fraternity, the foundation and pathway to peace”. He said that “not only individuals but nations too must encounter one another in a spirit of fraternity,” adding that richer nations have a responsibility to assist the less developed in order to fulfill the duty of solidarity.
In response, Ma said the peace-promoting ideal proposed by ROC Founding Father Dr. Sun Yat-sen is a standard that guides the nation in its relations with other countries. He added that he also has always believed the ROC should “help the weak and aid the poor.”
Ma cited examples of the ROC government’s involvement in helping earthquake-stricken Japan in 2011 and typhoon-ravaged Philippines. He said in the spirit of fraternity, the ROC made a donation of NT$6.9 billion (US$227.75 million) to Japan and sent funds and goods worth more than US$12 million to the Philippines right after the disaster struck to advance humanitarian work.
The president emphasized that since he took office in 2008, Taiwan has reached 19 agreements and two points of consensus with mainland China. Cross-strait relations are characterized by peace and stability. It is a concrete realization of the biblical prophecy that “they will beat their swords into ploughshares,” and of the fraternal spirit that the pope has urged all nations to display.
According to Ma, he proposed the East China Sea Peace Initiative in August 2012, calling for Japan and mainland China to shelve disputes, share resources and start negotiations together with Taiwan.
Against this backdrop, Taiwan signed a fisheries agreement with Japan April 10, 2013, on the basis of equality and reciprocity. The pact is not only in line with modern international law, but an effective means for resolving regional disputes and maintaining peace in the East China Sea. (DF)
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