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Spratlys are worth making a scene over

ON SATURDAY, PRESIDENT Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) traveled to Taiping Island (太平島) to visit troops there and inspect an airstrip that was recently completed.

The Spratly Islands (南沙群島) are the most spread out and southernmost of the four island groups in the South China Sea. The Spratlys consist of more than 230 islands, reefs and sandbanks. The main islands are Taiping Island, Nanwei Island (南威島) and Zhongye Island (中業島) -- otherwise known as Itu Aba Island, Spratly Island and Thitu Island.

In 1933, the Chinese government declared the Paracel Islands (西沙群島) the southernmost extent of its territory. This means that at that time, China did not claim the Spratlys. After the reign of Emperor Taisho (1879-1926), Japan named the island group "Shinnan Shoto." In April 1939, it occupied the islands and incorporated them under Kaohsiung City, Kaohsiung Prefecture. At first Japan had only a meteorological station on the islands, but later troops were deployed there. In signing the San Francisco Peace Treaty in 1951, Japan renounced not only all claims to Taiwan and Penghu, but also to the Spratlys. Since that time, Taiping Island has been governed by Taiwan.

To defend Taiwan's claims to islands in the South China Sea, the Ministry of the Interior established the South China Sea Group in 2003. This group laid down policy guidelines for Taiwan's administration of the region. It also established a satellite survey point on Taiping Island and made plans for a national maritime park there.

When Taiwan began building an airstrip on Taiping Island, the Vietnamese ministry of foreign affairs issued repeated protests saying that Taiwan had violated Vietnamese sovereignty. Historically speaking, however, Vietnam's claim to the island is baseless. China recently established Sansha City on Hainan Island and incorporated Taiping Island into its administrative territory. As Taiwan has long had people stationed on the island, this was a provocation.

The dispute over South China Sea islands should be solved through negotiations between all countries involved. These countries could then cooperate to develop the islands' natural resources.

However, Taiwan has been all but excluded from plans to survey the area for oil. The construction of the airstrip and Chen's visit to Taiping Island were an assertion of Taiwan's authority over the island group. The president placed other countries on notice that Taiwan will play a more active role in the region.

Now that the airstrip on Taiping Island is complete, travel time to and from the Spratlys -- previously a nine-day round trip by boat -- has been greatly reduced. The airstrip will also facilitate rescue operations and military operations.

The president has been criticized for visiting Taiping Island, in particular by the Philippines and Vietnam. Manila was particularly outspoken, saying that Taiwan was threatening peace and stability in the region. However, is is worth noting that the Philippines' representative to Taiwan had previously made it clear that Manila values its relationship with Taipei, downplaying any arguments over the Spratlys.

In any event, and despite what may be said at home or abroad, Chen's actions were in keeping with national policy. Japan has spent ?60 billion (US$563 million) to combat the erosion of Okinotori Island, 1740km south of Tokyo. Defending Okinotori from the winds and sea costs Japan up to ?200 million each year. Compared to that, Taiwan's investment in the Spratlys is modest.

Li Ming-juinn is vice secretary-general of the Taiwanese Society of International Law.

TRANSLATED BY ANNA STIGGELBOUT
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