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Taiwan reaffirms stance on eve of ruling on South China Sea disputes

ROC Central News Agency

2016/07/11 19:24:15

Taipei, July 11 (CNA) Taiwan on Monday reaffirmed its stance on its claims in the South China Sea a day before an international tribunal is to rule on a dispute between the Philippines and China in the region.

The government will continue to insist on Taiwan's sovereignty over the islands in the South China Sea, including Taiping Island, the largest naturally formed island in the Spratly Islands, Presidential Office spokesman Alex Huang (黃重諺) said Monday.

Huang also said the government will stay on top of all developments related to the ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague and has prepared for various contingencies.

He reiterated the government's three main principles related to South China Sea disputes.

First, all related parties in the South China Sea must base their claims on international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Second, Taiwan expects all claimants to resolve their disputes through peaceful means, and third, all related parties have the obligation to respect the freedom of navigation and overflight in the region.

"We have always advocated setting aside disputes, jointly tapping resources and promoting regional peace and stability with related countries," Huang said.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration is scheduled to give a ruling on the case brought by the Philippines against China over their disputes in the South China Sea.

Manila argues that the land formations China claims in the South China Sea are nothing more than reefs and therefore not entitled to 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zones, which buttress Beijing's insistence that it has sovereignty over the waters.

China has repeatedly rejected the tribunal's jurisdiction over the case since it was filed in 2013.

Although Taiwan is not a party to the case, its claims in the South China Sea are similar to those of China, and Taiping Island (also known as Itu Aba), which is controlled by Taiwan, was brought up in testimony during the court hearings.

Should the court rule that Taiping Island is not an island under international law, it could also undercut some of Taiwan's claims.

Vice Foreign Minister Leo Lee (李澄然) said Monday that the government's stance on its sovereignty over the South China Sea has remained unchanged.

The ministry will respond strongly if the ruling says Taiping is not an island, Lee said, adding that it will launch an international promotion campaign.

(By Sophia Yeh, Chen Chia-lun, and Lilian Wu)
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