Now is not the best time for Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen to visit Taiping Island in the South China Sea, which Taipei considers its territory, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said, CNA reported on March 20.
Lawmakers from the opposition Kuomintang Party called on Tsai Ing-wen to strengthen Taiwan’s sovereignty by visiting Taiping in light of the completion of dredging work to accommodate large ships. Previous Taiwanese presidents Chen Shui-bian of the Democratic Progressive Party and Ma Ying-jeou of the Kuomintang visited the island while in office.
Wu responded by saying that there is no doubt that Taiping is Taiwanese territory, regardless of whether Tsai Ing-wen goes there or not. Regarding the president’s visit to the Island, Vu pointed out that when making such a decision, all factors must be taken into account.
Now, in the South China Sea, tensions between China and the Philippines are constantly arising. This is not the best time for Tsai Ing-wen to visit the region. It could be seen internationally as an attempt to add fuel to the already difficult situation that has developed in the South China Sea.
At the same time, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs respects the right of members of the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee of the Taiwan Parliament to visit Taiping. The visit is scheduled for May 16.
Now, according to Wu, Taiwan sends up to 20 warships daily to patrol the waters of the South China Sea. China has recently built military bases on three islands surrounding Taiping: Subi, Fiery Cross and Mischief Reefs.
Recall that the Taiwan Coast Guard announced the completion of dredging work so that large ships could dock in Taiping and supply the island.
Taiping, also known as Itu Aba, is the largest island of the Spratly Archipelago in the South China Sea. It is under the control of Taiwan. Taiping is also claimed by Vietnam, China and the Philippines.
About 200 members of the Taiwan Coast Guard are stationed on the island and are trained by marines. A landing strip has been built on the island.
The Spratly Islands in the South China Sea are claimed by China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei. The islands are of great geographical importance.
Oil and gas have been discovered on the continental shelf in the Spratly region. The population of the islands is very small. There are four airports on the islands.
Source: Rossa Primavera
I am Michael Melvin, an experienced news writer with a passion for uncovering stories and bringing them to the public. I have been working in the news industry for over five years now, and my work has been published on multiple websites. As an author at 24 News Reporters, I cover world section of current events stories that are both informative and captivating to read.