Twenty opposition lawmakers are to visit Itu Aba (Taiping Island, 太平島) on Saturday next week, a trip that not only has raised controversy domestically, but might also cause more unnecessary friction between nations in the region.
The 46-hectare Taiping Island, the largest of the naturally occurring Spratly Islands (Nansha Islands, 南沙群島) in the South China Sea, is 1,637 km southwest of Taiwan proper. It has been under the control of Taiwan since 1956 and administered as part of the municipality of Kaohsiung, although China, Vietnam and the Philippines also claim sovereignty.
While the delegation’s original departure on Thursday next week has been pushed back, the delegation had emphasized that it would pick a new date tovisit Taiping before the inauguration of president-elect William Lai (賴清德) on May 20.
The opposition lawmakers plan to travel in a C-130 Hercules escorted by air and marine units, and intend to stay on the island for only two hours.
Delegation leader Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Ma Wen-chun (馬文君) said the visit has three purposes: to demonstrate Taiwan’s sovereignty over the island, to inspect ongoing construction and to boost the morale of the island’s garrison.
However, both the National Security Bureau and Ministry of Foreign Affairs have warned that it is not an appropriate time for either the president or lawmakers to visit Taiping.
The tensions between China and the Philippines are escalating because of territorial disputes, which have been aggravated by unlawful Chinese occupation and establishment of infrastructures on disputed shoals, and increasing skirmishes between the two countries’ coast guard vessels.
To reaffirm sovereignty is justifiable in and of itself, however such a delicate issue should be carried out at the right time.
Otherwise this could have a negative impact on Taiwan’s international image.
Then-president Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) visit to Taiping in 2016 when the Philippine government had filed an arbitration case against China under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea was not only criticized for worsening regional tensions, but it also foolishly brought Taiping, which originally was excluded from Philippine’s legal arguments, into the case.
Ma’s reckless move led to a ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration to define Taiping as a “rock” and not subject to the convention, which has negatively impacted the legitimacy of Taiwan’s control over the island.
Having held Taiping for more than seven decades, Taiwan has deployed more than 200 coast guard personnel and built a hospital, farm and runway.
In January, under President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) instruction, the Coast Guard Administration completed a dredging project to allow larger vessels to dock at its wharf.
Nevertheless, while there is no urgent threat to Taiping’s security, the opposition politicians’ trip could be considered a trouble-making act that could escalate tensions.
It might also be seen as an attempt to echo China’s latest “10-dash line” claim in the South China Sea with Taiwan as “part of China,” which could further irritate Indo-Pacific states and democratic allies.
The opposition parties should understand the consequences of this reckless and unnecessary trip.
Loss is an inevitable part of life; things being found is rare — especially when cash is involved. Taipei has provided me with opportunities to appreciate the beautiful nature of the city and its people. Taipei is unique in many ways and this stands out from a traveler’s perspective. Every time I come to Taipei, I am struck by its vitality, energy, kindness, vibrant night markets and bustling streets, but just as I began to immerse myself in Christmas shopping for my grandchildren, I was jolted by an unexpected loss. Something important to me went missing, leaving me unsettled. I
In 1947, former British prime minister Winston Churchill mused that “it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.” He did not doubt democracy: He was noting that, for some, the jury was still out concerning its charms. Democracy is going through trying times, not only in Taiwan but also in regional neighbors South Korea and Japan. One cannot see the response to the brief “martial law” constitutional chaos in South Korea and the role that ordinary citizens played in it, or the “Bluebird
Recently, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) hastily pushed amendments to the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures (財政收支劃分法) through the Legislative Yuan, sparking widespread public concern. The legislative process was marked by opaque decisionmaking and expedited proceedings, raising alarms about its potential impact on the economy, national defense, and international standing. Those amendments prioritize short-term political gains at the expense of long-term national security and development. The amendments mandate that the central government transfer about NT$375.3 billion (US$11.47 billion) annually to local governments. While ostensibly aimed at enhancing local development, the lack
Having enjoyed contributing regular essays to the Liberty Times and Taipei Times now for several years, I feel it is time to pull back. As some of my readers know, I have enjoyed a decades-long relationship with Taiwan. My most recent visit was just a few months ago, when I was invited to deliver a keynote speech at a major conference in Taipei. Unfortunately, my trip intersected with Double Ten celebrations, so I missed the opportunity to call on friends in government, as well as colleagues in the new AIT building, that replaced the old Xin-yi Road complex. I have
RSS