Letters to the editor, March 11, 2024: Freedom of navigation

• Published date: 11 March 2024
• Author: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

How about the freedom of navigation on the Taiwan Strait and does it matter? The answer is simple and clear as Taiwan Strait is a key international shipping route, with almost half of the global container fleet and 88% of the world's largest ships by tonnage passing through it

As a responsible stakeholder, Taiwan's government has endeavored to defend the peaceful status quo across the Taiwan Strait and it is pleased and grateful to see collective efforts from fellow democracies to reaffirm the importance of peace and the freedom of navigation of Taiwan Strait. We strongly oppose any unilateral change that would damage the status quo and risk global stability and prosperity.

Regrettably, the Chinese government has been ramping up the gray-zone warfare to intimidate Taiwan, sending sorties and vessels to transcend the median line of Taiwan Strait nearly every day. Last month, without holding prior consultations with Taiwan in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regulations, the Civil Aviation Administration of China made a unilateral announcement revoking the 2015 cross-strait agreement on the M503, W122, and W123 flight routes. This not only seriously jeopardizes aviation safety, peace, and stability in the region but also undermines mutual trust and the status quo across the Taiwan Strait.

We call on the international society to support a peaceful Taiwan Strait and protect the rule-based international order by urging China to commence an immediate negotiation with Taiwan. This is a shared interest for every peace-loving country across the globe.

YAPING (ABBY) LEERepresentative Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Tel Aviv

Supporting the war effort

Further to Rabbi David Stav's "Shifting the paradigm: A proposed resolution for haredi IDF conscription" (March 10), I would like to add my support for his proposal. My late brother became haredi and all of his more than 100 offspring have followed that path.

Last week, I had an opportunity to talk with my nephews and niece about this problem. They are all members of United Torah Judaism-Degel Hatorah, with two of them in the Jerusalem faction.

I told them that they keep on telling me that their youth participate in such organizations as Hatzalah, ZAKA, Ezer Mizion, Yad Sarah, and others which are not as well-known. I noted to them that these organizations get recognition for National Service, and that their youth should opt for this way of supporting the war effort and showing...