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Taiwan holds sovereignty over Taiping Island: MOFA

ROC Central News Agency

2013/04/13 17:26:48

Taipei, April 13 (CNA) Taiwan has reiterated its sovereignty over Taiping Island in the South China Sea, after Vietnam raised objections to the Republic of China's (ROC) plans to expand a pier on the islet.

Taiwan's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Anna Kao said on Friday that the ROC has long governed Taiping Island, the largest in the chain of the disputed Spratly islands, and has sovereignty over it.

Any activities and measures the government carries out on the island are legitimate and other countries should not trigger territorial tensions in the region for any reason, she added.

Vietnam Television 1 (VTV1) channel reported Friday evening that an official of the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry's Border Committee expressed stern opposition to Taiwan's plan to expand a pier on Taiping Island and stressed that the plan will infringe on Vietnam's sovereignty on the Spratly Islands.

The television report came after Taiwan's coastguard said last month it would stage a live-fire exercise on Taiping Island in April.

The Spratlys are claimed in whole or part by Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Brunei.

Taiping, in the Spratlys, is believed to be rich in natural resources. It has long been governed by Taiwan, which maintains a small coastguard garrison there.

Vietnam also voiced anger after Taiwan moved new, longer-range artillery and mortars to Taiping Island last year.

In response, Kao said that regardless of whether it's from the perspective of history, geography or international law, the Spratly Islands, the Paracel Islands, the Macclesfield Bank (Zhongsha Islands), the Pratas Islands (Dongsha Islands) and their surrounding waters are inherent parts of the territory of the ROC. The ROC holds indisputable sovereignty rights over the four island chains and surrounding waters, she said.

Kao added that its sovereignty over Taiping Island is also unquestionable.

Kao also said the ROC is willing to negotiate with other countries to settle the disputes in the South China Sea based on the principles of 'safeguarding sovereignty, shelving disputes, peace and reciprocity, and joint exploration.'

Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration has budgeted NT$19 million (US$634,070) to assess whether to expand the pier.

The expansion is part of its efforts to boost defence capabilities in the disputed area as tensions in the region have recently increased. An expanded pier would allow port calls by the coast guard's larger ships. The current pier can only handle small patrol boats.

(By Angela Tsai and Y.L. Kao)
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