President Tsai Ing-wen rallied troops on the deck of the frigate, saying Taiwanese were determined to "defend their country`s rights", before the warship headed for Taiwan-controlled Taiping island in the Spratly island chain from the southern city of Kaohsiung.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled Tuesday that China has no historic rights to its claimed "nine-dash line" and that it had violated the Philippines` sovereign rights in the exclusive economic zone.
Crucially for Taipei, it ruled that Taiwan-administered Taiping, the largest island in the Spratlys chain, was legally a "rock" that did not give it an exclusive economic zone, undermining Taiwanese claims to waters surrounding the island.
Taiwan`s government said the ruling was "completely unacceptable" and had no legally binding force since the arbitral tribunal did not formally invite Taipei to participate in its proceedings or solicit its views.
- "The South China Sea ruling, especially the categorisation of Taiping island, has severely jeopardised our country`s rights in the South China Sea islands and their relevant waters," Tsai told soldiers on the deck of ship in footage broadcast by news channels.
"This patrol mission will show Taiwanese people`s determination to defend their country`s rights," she said, before disembarking from the warship ahead of its departure.
The defence ministry vowed to "firmly defend Taiwan`s territory and sovereignty" and said there would be no change to Taiwan`s claims in the strategic seas because of the ruling.
It brought the deployment of the warship forward by a day in reaction to the ruling.
The ministry said in a statement it would continue to send aircraft and ships for patrol missions to the region and remain "highly vigilant" to protect national security...
[AFP/zeenews.india.com]
13/7/16
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Related:
South China Sea arbitration invalid
International tribunal has ruled against Chinese claims to rights in the South China Sea, backing a case brought by the Philippines.
- 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 naval 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, the Taiwanese-held Itu Aba, was a "rock" rather than an island and didn’t qualify for a 200-nautical mile (370 kilometer) exclusive economic zone. The frigate’s planned patrol included a resupply stop at the feature, which Taiwan calls Taiping, a defense ministry spokesman said.
The decision to deploy the warship could further escalate tensions in the area after the arbitration tribunal ruling. China has said it doesn’t recognize the court’s jurisdiction and warned Wednesday it may yet seek to set up an air defense identification zone over disputed waters.
The ruling, resulting from a challenge brought by the Philippines, invalidated China’s “nine-dash line” claim. 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....bloomberg.com
13/7/16
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