President-elect urges restraint as tensions rise in South China Sea

ROC Central News Agency

2016/02/17 13:37:04

Taipei, Feb. 17 (CNA) President-elect Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Wednesday called for restraint in the South China Sea, after news surfaced that day that China has deployed an advanced surface-to-air missile system on one of the islands in the contested region.

Tensions are now higher in the region, Tsai told reporters before attending a DPP conference, when asked how China's actions would impact regional safety.

'I call on all parties to exercise self-control based on the principle of peaceful resolution of disputes in the South China Sea,' she said.

Fox News published satellite images from ImageSat International (ISI) on Tuesday (U.S. time), showing two batteries of eight surface-to-air missile launchers as well as a radar system on Woody Island, according to the news channel.

Woody Island, a part of the Paracel Islands, is also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam.

A U.S. official confirmed the accuracy of the photos, Fox News reported.

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense spokesman Maj. Gen. Luo Shou-he (羅紹和) said his ministry is aware of China's missile deployment and 'will closely watch subsequent developments.'

(By Sophia Yeh and Christie Chen)
ENDITEM/ke