Defense Ministry rules out cooperation with China on Spratlys
ROC Central News Agency
2011/07/19 20:36:27
By Chen Chih-chung & Bear Lee
Taipei, July 19 (CNA) The Ministry of National Defense (MND) ruled out Tuesday the possibility of cooperating with China on the rising tensions over the disputed Spratly Islands.
"We have never been shaken even a little bit in our determination to defend our sovereignty over the Spratly Islands," Vice Defense Minister Andrew Yang said in meeting participants in a MND-sponsored workshop on the issue. The workshop included a trip on a warship to Taiwan-controlled Taiping Island, the biggest island in the Spratlys.
The archipelago in the South China Sea reportedly lies atop rich oil reserves and other natural resources. It is claimed either entirely or in part by Taiwan, China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei.
The dispute came under the spotlight after Vietnam staged a military drill in the area in early June, triggering a series of moves by some of the other claimants in efforts to further cement their respective claims.
Saying that the students' voyage to the island is part of Taiwan's efforts to reiterate its sovereignty, Yang said that "the country will also consider other activities that will fully demonstrate our determination"to maintain sovereignty.
The last Taiwanese marines pulled out of Taiping Island in 1999 and Coast Guard Administration (CGA) personnel took over responsibility for manning the island, using weapons and logistical support provided by the military.
We definitely will not yield to others with regard to the territory issue, and neither we will cooperate with China to reach a compromise of any kind on the Spratlys," he said.
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