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ROC reaffirms Spratly Islands claim
Sunday, April 1, 2012 0:08 am TWN, CNA
TAIPEI -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Saturday reaffirmed its position on the South China Sea amid reports that the Philippines will build a wharf on one of the islands in the disputed Spratly Islands chain. Reports said the Philippines would build the pier on Thitu, the second largest of the Spratly Islands and the largest one occupied by the Philippines, in an act aimed at exercising its territorial sovereignty.
The MOFA issued a news release to say that regardless of whether the issue is looked at from the perspective of history, geography or international law, the Nansha Islands (Spratly Islands), the Shisha Islands (Paracel Islands), the Chungsha Islands (Macclesfield Islands) and Tungsha Islands (Pratas Islands) as well as their surrounding waters, sea beds and subsoil, are all an inherent part of the territory of the Republic of China.
The R.O.C. government reasserts that it enjoys all rights over the islands and their surrounding waters, and that it does not accept any claim to sovereignty over, or occupation of, these areas by other countries.
Taiwan, China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei have all claimed large parts of the South China Sea, including the Spratly Islands, which are believed to sit atop vast deposits of gas and oil.
The ministry strongly urged the countries concerned to exercise self restraint so that peaceful resolutions to the disputes can be reached through consultation and dialogue.
Taiwan remains willing to participate in dialogue that seeks to find resolutions to disputes and to promote regional peace, stability, and development, it said.
The ministry reiterated that it upholds the basic principles of safeguarding sovereignty, shelving disputes, peace and reciprocity, and joint exploration and remains willing to work with other countries on exploring resources in the South China Sea.
Sunday, April 1, 2012 0:08 am TWN, CNA
TAIPEI -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Saturday reaffirmed its position on the South China Sea amid reports that the Philippines will build a wharf on one of the islands in the disputed Spratly Islands chain. Reports said the Philippines would build the pier on Thitu, the second largest of the Spratly Islands and the largest one occupied by the Philippines, in an act aimed at exercising its territorial sovereignty.
The MOFA issued a news release to say that regardless of whether the issue is looked at from the perspective of history, geography or international law, the Nansha Islands (Spratly Islands), the Shisha Islands (Paracel Islands), the Chungsha Islands (Macclesfield Islands) and Tungsha Islands (Pratas Islands) as well as their surrounding waters, sea beds and subsoil, are all an inherent part of the territory of the Republic of China.
The R.O.C. government reasserts that it enjoys all rights over the islands and their surrounding waters, and that it does not accept any claim to sovereignty over, or occupation of, these areas by other countries.
Taiwan, China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei have all claimed large parts of the South China Sea, including the Spratly Islands, which are believed to sit atop vast deposits of gas and oil.
The ministry strongly urged the countries concerned to exercise self restraint so that peaceful resolutions to the disputes can be reached through consultation and dialogue.
Taiwan remains willing to participate in dialogue that seeks to find resolutions to disputes and to promote regional peace, stability, and development, it said.
The ministry reiterated that it upholds the basic principles of safeguarding sovereignty, shelving disputes, peace and reciprocity, and joint exploration and remains willing to work with other countries on exploring resources in the South China Sea.