Page 11 - Aruba Today
P. 11
WORLD NEWS A11
Thursday 24 March 2016
Pushing territorial claim
Taiwan says ‘rock’ is an island
JOHNSON LAI Taiping and has “misled the of reefs and shoals, and This photo provided by the Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense shows
Associated Press arbiters with absurd reason- then constructing housing, an aerial view of Taiwan’s Taiping island, also known as Itu Aba,
TAIPING ISLAND (AP) -Tai- ing,” Ma said. ports, airstrips and other in the Spratly archipelago, roughly 1600 kms. (1000 miles) south
wan flew international Manila’s case, which has infrastructure. The United of Taiwan, Wednesday, March 23, 2016.
media to its largest island been rejected by China, States and others say Bei-
holding in the South China aims to challenge Beijing’s jing is exacerbating ten- Associated Press
Sea on Wednesday in a blanket claim to virtually sions in the strategically vi-
bid to reinforce its territorial the entire South China Sea. tal region, while China ac-
claims in the disputed and Yet it threatens also to harm cuses the U.S. of militarizing
increasingly tense region. relations between the Phil- the area by ordering Navy
Deputy Foreign Minister ippines and fellow pro-U.S. ships to cruise in defiance
Bruce Linghu, who led the democracy Taiwan, which of Beijing’s claims.q
trip, said he wanted to generally enjoy friendly
show that Taiping is an is- neighborly relations.
land capable of sustain- Taiwan, which lacks diplo-
ing human habitation, and matic ties to negotiate with
not simply a “rock” as the the five other governments
Philippines claims in a case with territorial claims in the
brought before the Perma- South China Sea, has in-
nent Court of Arbitration. creasingly turned to public
Islands are entitled to ter- diplomacy to reinforce its
ritorial waters, an exclusive own claims.
economic zone and other Ma paid a visit to Taiping in
rights not enjoyed by mere late January, drawing rare
rocks. criticism from the United
Two dozen journalists were States, Taiwan’s key ally,
flown to the island aboard which has urged all parties
a Taiwanese air force C-130 to avoid steps that might
transport plane that landed raise tensions. Although Tai-
on an airstrip guarded by wan’s claim to almost the
coast guard sentries with entire region overlaps with
rifles. They were shown the China’s, Ma has sought to
island’s post office and its cast Taiwan as a peaceful,
fresh water well, and were humanitarian player in the
to visit the harbor and a tra- region.
ditional Chinese temple. Taiwan operates a 10-bed
The Philippines and Viet- hospital, a lighthouse and
nam also claim Taiping. a fishing industry aid station
Critics say Manila is seeking on 46-hectare (110-acre)
to have Taiping designat- Taiping, also known as Itu
ed a rock to avoid having Aba, which has a popula-
to share an exclusive eco- tion of around 200 mostly
nomic zone with its own coast guard personnel. It is
nearby island of Palawan. spending more than $100
Speaking to reporters in million to upgrade the is-
Taipei following the trip, land’s airstrip and build a
Taiwanese President Ma wharf capable of allowing
Ying-jeou said he would in- its 3,000-ton coast guard
vite Philippine government cutters to dock.
representatives, lawyers, Roughly 2,000 kilometers
and five members of the (1,200 miles) south of Tai-
arbitration commission to wan, Taiping is the largest
visit Taiping themselves to naturally occurring island in
see that it is “an island with the South China Sea’s dis-
fresh water, capable of puted Spratly Islands.
sustaining farm production, However, it has recently
livestock and human life.” been eclipsed in size by
The Philippines “remains artificial islands China has
ignorant” of conditions on built by piling sand on top
