Ma vows to defend nation’s islands

Staff writer, with CNA





The Republic of China (ROC) will “staunchly defend” its sovereignty over Itu Aba (Taiping Island, 太平島) in the South China Sea and every right held by the nation under international law, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said yesterday.

Citing international documents such as the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Declaration and the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, Ma said that the ROC regained sovereignty over islands in the South China Sea after the end of World War II in 1945.

Since then, it has built infrastructure on islands in the region, including Itu Aba, he said in a speech at an international conference marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Itu Aba has an airstrip, a hospital, and communications and solar energy systems, among other infrastructure, Ma said.

“The ROC government will continue development on Taiping with the aim of peace, to make it a hub for humanitarian assistance, environmental protection and scientific research in the Spratly Islands [Nansha Islands (南沙群島)],” Ma said, adding that Itu Aba complies with the definition of an island by international law.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a statement reiterating that the ROC owns and exercises effective control over several islands in the South China Sea.

“Whether from the perspective of history, geography or international law, the Spratly Islands, Paracel Islands [Xisha Islands (西沙群島)], Macclesfield Bank [Zhongsha Islands (中沙群島)] and Pratas Islands [Dongsha Islands (東沙群島)], as well as their surrounding waters, are an inherent part of ROC territory and waters,” the ministry said in the statement.

“As the ROC enjoys all rights to these island groups and their surrounding waters in accordance with international law, the ROC government does not recognize any claim to sovereignty over, or occupation of, these areas by other countries, irrespective of the reasons put forward or methods used for such claim or occupation,” the statement said. “Any arrangement or agreement regarding Taiping Island or other islands in the South China Sea and their surrounding waters that is reached without ROC participation and consent shall have no legal effect on the ROC, and shall not be recognized by the ROC government.”

To defend Itu Aba and assert the nation’s claims over nearby islets, government officials have given the go-ahead for P-3C Orion reconnaissance aircraft to fly regular patrols over the South China Sea.

Officials confirmed earlier this week they were expanding P-3C patrol missions from the nation’s air defense identification zone surrounding Taiwan to the nation’s islands in the South China Sea.

Additional reporting by Jason Pan