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Taiwan Sends Frigate to South China Sea in Rebuke Against Hague
Debra Mao
Adela Lin
China and Taiwan are finding common ground after an international court dismissed their shared claims to more than 80 percent of the South China Sea.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen sent a frigate to patrol the disputed waterway Wednesday, to show the government’s “determination" to defend its national interest. The order came hours after the Permanent Court of Arbitration found China’s -- and therefore Taiwan’s -- claims to much of the area have no legal basis.
Specifically, the court found the largest natural feature in the contested Spratly Islands, Taiwan-held Itu Aba, was a "rock" rather than an island and didn’t qualify for a 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone. The frigate’s patrol will include a resupply stop at the feature, which Taiwan calls Taiping, a defense ministry spokesman said.
The ruling from the arbitration tribunal was brought by the Philippines and invalidated China’s “nine-dash line” claim to a large swath of the South China Sea. China’s assertions cross over with those from countries like Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines, and are based on a map created by Taiwan’s Republic of China government in 1947.
Taiwan has administered Itu Aba since the 1950s.
Tsai said Tuesday the Hague ruling had no binding effect on Taiwan and seriously undermined her government’s rights. She called for multilateral talks to promote stability in the region.
The “Republic of China absolutely doesn’t accept such absurd and unfair ruling," former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-Jeou said in a Facebook post. Ma’s administration had filed a brief to the arbitration panel stating its case for a exclusive economic zone around Itu Aba, citing its ability to support life.
Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration also stations vessels in the disputed waters, and another Wei-Shin frigate arrived near Itu Aba Tuesday night, according to an agency statement.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...te-to-south-china-sea-in-rebuke-against-hague
Debra Mao
Adela Lin
China and Taiwan are finding common ground after an international court dismissed their shared claims to more than 80 percent of the South China Sea.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen sent a frigate to patrol the disputed waterway Wednesday, to show the government’s “determination" to defend its national interest. The order came hours after the Permanent Court of Arbitration found China’s -- and therefore Taiwan’s -- claims to much of the area have no legal basis.
Specifically, the court found the largest natural feature in the contested Spratly Islands, Taiwan-held Itu Aba, was a "rock" rather than an island and didn’t qualify for a 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone. The frigate’s patrol will include a resupply stop at the feature, which Taiwan calls Taiping, a defense ministry spokesman said.
The ruling from the arbitration tribunal was brought by the Philippines and invalidated China’s “nine-dash line” claim to a large swath of the South China Sea. China’s assertions cross over with those from countries like Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines, and are based on a map created by Taiwan’s Republic of China government in 1947.
Taiwan has administered Itu Aba since the 1950s.
Tsai said Tuesday the Hague ruling had no binding effect on Taiwan and seriously undermined her government’s rights. She called for multilateral talks to promote stability in the region.
The “Republic of China absolutely doesn’t accept such absurd and unfair ruling," former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-Jeou said in a Facebook post. Ma’s administration had filed a brief to the arbitration panel stating its case for a exclusive economic zone around Itu Aba, citing its ability to support life.
Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration also stations vessels in the disputed waters, and another Wei-Shin frigate arrived near Itu Aba Tuesday night, according to an agency statement.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...te-to-south-china-sea-in-rebuke-against-hague
