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Taiwan's military to ensure maritime rights in South China Sea

ROC Central News Agency

2016/07/13 15:19:24

Taipei, July 13 (CNA) A day after the release of a court ruling unfavorable to Taiwan's claims in the South China Sea, Deputy Defense Minister Lee Hsi-ming (李喜明) declared Wednesday that the military will provide any support needed to safeguard the country's maritime rights in the region.

In a case brought by the Philippines against China, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague said none of the Spratly Islands, including the Taiwan-held Taiping Island, could be considered "islands" and are therefore not entitled to 200-nautical-mile economic zones.

Taiwan's government, which was not a party to the case, has said the ruling is not binding on Taiwan, and Lee echoed that stance by committing to support Taiwan's territorial interests in the South China Sea at a legislative hearing on the impact of the ruling.

Opposition Kuomintang Legislator Ma Wen-chun (馬文君) said the ruling will have the biggest impact on Taiwan's fishing sector, and she asked how the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) would respond if fishing boats from other countries were operating within 200 nautical miles of Taiping Island.

Deputy CGA chief Hu Yi-gang (胡意剛) said the Coast Guard would drive the boat away in accordance with the law.

According to Ma, Taiwan was the biggest loser in the ruling because it undermined Taiwan's sovereignty claims and hurt its economic zones.

An island is entitled to a 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone, compared with only a 12-nautical-mile zone for "rocks."

Lee said it was the Ministry of National Defense's responsibility to protect the nation against any encroachment of its sovereignty.

He said the Navy, in addition to showing resolve, will put a priority on maritime rights and enforcement of the law.

"We want to ensure the enforcement of law in the sea so as to protect our maritime rights," Lee said.

He also said the Di Hua Frigate (迪化艦), which was originally scheduled to set off on a routine patrol mission in waters near the Spratly Islands on Thursday, set sail a day earlier to "underscore the resolve" to safeguard the country's land.

(By Claudia Liu and Lilian Wu)
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