Yen, who was making his first trip to the island since taking charge of the Ministry of National Defense in August 2013, reaffirmed the nation’s sovereignty over Taiping and its surrounding waters.
“The government wishes to work with other parties in developing natural resources in the South China Sea based on the principles of ROC sovereignty, shelving of disputes, peace and reciprocity, and joint development,” he said.
Accompanying the ministers were opposition Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chiu Chih-wei, who also serves as chairman of the Legislature’s Foreign and National Defense Committee, and People First Party Legislator Lee Tung-hao.
The island forms part of the Nansha (Spratly) Islands, which are located 1,600 kilometers south of Kaohsiung City.
Chiu said the tour will help the committee determine if Taiping has adequate defenses in the face of increased activity by other nations in the region. Echoing these remarks, Lee said the pier extension project is an appropriate measure and the government should strengthen its intelligence gathering capabilities in the area.
But ruling Kuomintang Legislator Lin Yu-fang, a member of the Foreign and National Defense Committee, said the government must do more to safeguard Taiping.
“It takes only minutes by plane to reach the island from the nearby islets claimed by mainland China. We should prioritize a review of the island’s defenses and consider routinely sending or even stationing a frigate there.”
Yen said the MND is keeping a close eye on the situation and working hard to establish Taiwan as a peacemaker in the South China Sea. (SSC-JSM)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw