Taiwanese fishing boats might not land on Taiping Island: spokesman
ROC Central News Agency
2016/07/24 18:20:24
Taipei, July 24 (CNA) A Taiwanese fishing flotilla that departed for the Taiwan-controlled Taiping Island in the South China Sea July 20 is expected to approach the island Monday, but might not be allowed to land there, according to local regulations, a government spokesman said Sunday.
Taiping Island is considered to be a military-controlled zone and is thus off limits to Taiwanese fishermen and the general public without permission that must be obtained 45 days in advance, according to Cabinet spokesman Tung Chen-yuan (童振源).
However, if necessary, the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) personnel stationed on the island can provide emergency shelter, supplies and equipment for people in need, Tung added.
He made the statement after the flotilla, led by Cheng Chun-chung (鄭春忠), the head of an association promoting cross-Taiwan Strait farmer and fishermen exchanges, departed for Taiping Island July 20 to highlight the country's sovereignty over the island.
The action was taken in response to a recent ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that said all of the high-tide features in the Spratly Islands, including Itu Aba (Taiping Island), are legally "rocks" rather than islands and therefore not entitled to 200-nautical-mile economic zones under international law.
An island is entitled to a 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone, compared with only a 12-nautical-mile zone for "rocks."
The fishermen believe that the ruling will greatly reduce their fishing grounds, hurt their livelihoods and seriously undermine Taiwan's fishing rights and interests.
Four of the five Pingtung-registered fishing boats that joined the movement are expected to seek to land on the island by applying for emergency assistance shelter, Kuomintang Legislator Wang Yu-min (王育敏) said Sunday.
Tung said that CGA patrol vessels will keep close watch on the movements of the fishing boats in the region in order to provide necessary assistance to them and ensure their safety.
The CGA personnel will also step up protection of local fishermen operating in waters near the island by increasing patrols there.
Tung also reaffirmed the government's position that the nation maintains full sovereignty and all rights over the South China Sea islands and their surrounding waters.
Tung said that the government's firm stance on the South China Sea claims is well known internationally after the governments of former presidents Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) paid several visits to the island and the CGA has had personnel stationed on Taiping since the ROC Marine Corps pulled out in 1999.
Its stance has generated widespread international media coverage following the recent court ruling, as the government has provided news releases and relevant statements to more than 400 members of the international media since the ruling was announced earlier this month.
(By Tang Pei-chun, Lu Hsin-hui and Evelyn Kao)
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