A disaster response drill in the waters surrounding Taiping Island in the Nansha (Spratly) Islands underscored the Republic of China (Taiwan) government’s commitment to providing emergency assistance and transforming the island into a base for humanitarian aid and supplies in the South China Sea, according to the Coast Guard Administration Nov. 30.
CGA Minister Lee Chung-wei said at a news conference in Taipei City that the previous day’s Operation Nanyuan No. 1 clearly demonstrated the capabilities of participating agencies to coordinate effectively in responding to emergency situations. The drill involved elements of the CGA and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Health and Welfare, National Defense, and Transportation and Communications, as well as the National Rescue Command Center.
A media delegation was also on hand to observe the exercise. The group comprised five local journalists as well as seven correspondents from Agence France-Presse, Associated Press, Bloomberg, Kyodo News, NHK and Reuters.
“This drill is in line with the five actions unveiled by President Tsai Ing-wen July 19 in response to the award rendered earlier the same month by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the South China Sea arbitration,” Lee said.
“The CGA will continue to organize similar exercises in the area so as to develop Taiping Island into a base for providing humanitarian aid and logistic support in the South China Sea,” he added.
Speaking at the news conference, Cabinet spokesperson Hsu Kuo-yung reiterated the country’s sovereignty over the largest naturally formed island in the Nansha Islands.
“Taiping Island can sustain human habitation and an economic life of its own. It also meets the criteria of an island as defined in Article 121 of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea,” Hsu said. “Therefore, the ROC exercises full rights associated with territorial waters, a contiguous zone, a 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone, and a continental shelf under UNCLOS.”
Following the arbitration award that classified Taiping Island as a rock, the president announced five actions relating to the arbitration initiated by the Philippines. In addition to transforming the island into a base for humanitarian aid and supplies, these consist of stepping up patrol missions to safeguard the rights and safety of Taiwan fishermen operating in the region; enhancing multilateral dialogue with other relevant parties on collaboration and consensus; inviting international scholars to conduct scientific research on Taiping Island; and encouraging more local talents to study maritime law so as to strengthen the nation’s preparedness in response to international legal issues.
The president also proposed four principles to address overlapping claims by parties of interest in the South China Sea. These are peacefully resolving disputes in accordance with international law and UNCLOS; including Taiwan in any multilateral dispute settlement mechanism; ensuring freedom of aviation and navigation in the region; and setting aside differences and resolving disputes through joint development. (SFC-E)
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