Taiwan, like some countries in Southeast Asia, is surrounded by water and heavily dependent on sea transportation to maintain its economic and energy needs. Therefore the Taiwan Straits, the South China Sea and the western Pacific Ocean are very important to Taiwan's survival and security.
The pivotal role played by the Spratly Islands in the region geographically contributes to a close connection between Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia and Chinese mainland. The Spratlys are claimed all or in part by the ROC, China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei.
Over the last two decades, there have been several military conflicts in the South China Sea -- the PRC versus Vietnam in the Paracel Islands in 1974, the PRC versus Vietnam on Johnson Reef in 1988, the PRC versus the Philippines on Mischief Shoal in 1995 and fishing clashes between the PRC and the Philippines in 1999 and between the Philip-pines, Malaysia and Vietnam.
Malaysia's occupation of Investigator Shoal and Erica Reef in June 1999 prompted protests from the ROC and the PRC. Later, Vietnam's expansion and construction of structures on Oct.13, 1999 on Tennent Reef, Cornwallis South Reef and Alison Reef (all in the Spratlys and all first occupied by Hanoi in 1992) triggered protests from the Philippines and the ROC government.
Countries in the South China Sea region have suggested several approaches to resolving such conflicts and maintaining peace in the Spratlys. For example, Indonesia hosted a multi-lateral conference in 1990 -- the Workshop on Man-aging Potential Conflict in the South China Sea -- and ideas proposed at the conference were submitted to the respective governments for adoption.
But not one suggestion has yet been accepted by any participating government. There is no easy and available way to deal with the Spratlys problems via multi-lateral approach. On the contrary, a bilateral approach appears to be cooling down some disputes.
For example, after conflicts over Mischief Reef in 1995, the Philippines and the PRC reached a bilateral agreement on a code of conduct in the Spratlys.
The Philippines and Vietnam also drew up a draft of a regional code of conduct for ASEAN's Ministerial Conference of July 1999. But Malaysia argued that the scope of the South China Sea region must first be clearly defined and the jurisdictional rights of coastal states over the sea area be clarified.
Because each state in the region has its own perception of the South China Sea, the execution of a regional code of conduct is complicated. Malaysia wants the code to focus on the Spratlys instead of the entire South China Sea area. But Vietnam wants the Paracel Islands included, since it has a dispute with the PRC there.
A draft code of conduct was finally presented at the ASEAN Senior Official Meeting held in Manila on Nov, 25, 1999. ASEAN members then sought the PRC's support for the draft.
But Beijing has proposed its own code of conduct for dealings with ASEAN and there are several differences between the two.
First, ASEAN emphasizes on conflict resolution though a multi-lateral approach while the PRC favors a bilateral method.
Second, ASEAN says the scope of the area should cover the entire South China Sea, but the PRC wants it to concentrate on the Spratlys.
Third, ASEAN emphasizes co-operation through the bilateral or multi-lateral agreements, but the PRC argues for joint development.
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