[StitlyDute]

Taiwan says move will escalate tensions

Source: Xinhua |2012-9-12|NEWSPAPER EDITION
Sep 12, 2012

TAIWAN has strongly criticized Japan's "purchase" of parts of the Diaoyu Islands, saying the move will hurt the feelings of the Taiwan people and escalate tensions in East Asia.

Timothy Yang, a senior Taiwan official, summoned Sumio Tarui, the Japanese envoy in Taipei, to strongly protest Japan's move.

Meanwhile, Taiwan authorities ordered its envoy in Tokyo, Shen Ssu-tsun, to lodge a strong protest with the Japanese government and to fly back to Taipei to brief on the situation.

Yang told a press conference after his meeting with Tarui that Taiwan harshly condemned the Japanese move.

The Japanese government showed no respect for historical evidence and international conventions by nationalizing the Diaoyu Islands, he said.

He said Taiwan would not accept any unilateral and illegal move by Japan to "purchase" the islands and would condemn such a move in the harshest terms.

He urged Japan to revoke the decision and warned that Japan will be held accountable for all things resulting from the situation.

Meanwhile, Sean Chen, head of Taiwan's executive body, said Taiwan would not recognize the legitimacy of Japan's move.