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Taiwan reiterates sovereignty over archipelagoes in South China Sea

ROC Central News Agency

2011/04/17 23:29:00

Taipei, April 17 (CNA) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) reiterated Sunday the Republic of China's sovereignty over various archipelagoes in the South China Sea.

In a press release, the MOFA said that no matter from what perspective -- history, geography or international law -- the Nansha Islands (Spratly Islands), Shisha Islands (Paracel Islands), Chungsha Islands (Macclesfield Bank), and Tungsha Islands (Pratas Islands), as well as their surrounding waters and respective seabeds and subsoils, all consist of the inherent territory of the ROC.

"It is undoubted these archipelagoes fall under the sovereignty of ROC," it said.

Taiwan cannot accept any claim to sovereignty over, or occupation of, these areas by other countries or territories, it said.

It said that countries bordering the islands should respect the principles and spirit of relevant international laws, and refrain from adopting unilateral measures that might upset the peace and stability in the South China Sea, " it said.

The ROC government will seek to jointly explore natural resources in the South China Sea with other countries in according with the principles of "safeguarding sovereignty, shelving disputes, peace and reciprocity, and joint exploration," MOFA said.

Taiwan also urges neighboring countries to exercise self-constraint so that peaceful resolutions to South China Sea disputes can be reached through consultation and dialogue, it added.

Taiwan, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Brunei each claim all or part of the 3.5 million-square-kilometer South China Sea.

The hot-button issue resurfaced last week after Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung met with Guo Boxiong, vice chairman of the mainland Chinese Central Military Commission, and they agreed to "work closely to develop basic measures" on issues related to the sea, according to news reports.

Meanwhile, the Philippines made an official complaint April 5 to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf about China's claim to the sea. (By hsieh Chia-chen & Bear Lee) Enditem/Bear