The Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed Vietnam’s protest Sept. 11 over a visit late last month by high-ranking ROC government officials to Taiping Island in the South China Sea.
“No country is entitled to comment on normal activities carried out on the island as the ROC exercises full sovereignty and administration rights,” the MOFA said.
The group, headed by Hu Wei-chen, secretary-general of the National Security Council, comprised Hsiung Kuang-hua, deputy secretary-general of the Presidential Office, Lee Hong-yuan, minister of the interior, and Wang Ginn-wang, minister of the Coast Guard Administration.
While on Taiping, the officials met with ROC coast guard and military personnel and extended President Ma Ying-jeou’s best wishes. They also toured Zhongzhou Reef, situated 3.1 nautical miles east of the island, and raised the national flag.
“From the perspective of history, geography and international law, the Nansha (Spratly) Islands, as well as the Xisha (Paracel), Zhongsha (Macclesfield Bank) and Dongsha (Pratas) archipelagos and their surrounding waters are all integral parts of ROC territory,” the MOFA said.
“The ROC government refuses to recognize moves by any other nation to occupy or claim control over these islands.”
The ministry urged neighboring countries to include the ROC in talks on a South China Sea code of conduct, while respecting international law and avoiding unilateral actions that could undermine peace and stability in the region.
“Based on the principles of ROC sovereignty over the islands, shelving of disputes, peace and reciprocity, and joint development, the ROC government wishes to work with other parties in developing natural resources in the South China Sea,” the MOFA said.
Taiping, the largest island in the Nanshas, is located 880 nautical miles southwest of Taiwan’s Kaohsiung City. (JSM)
Write to Rachel Chan at ccchan@mofa.gov.tw