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Presidential Office denies Chen plans visit to boost Hsieh

The Presidential Office yesterday denied that President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) plans to visit the Spratly Islands (南沙群島) before the presidential election for the sole purpose of raising the profile of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷).

"The report is ridiculous and groundless," the Presidential Office said in a statement. "It is pure speculation."

The Presidential Office said it is a tradition for the president to visit military camps ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays.

The statement said the details of the visits where still being arranged by the Ministry of National Defense.

"We have not yet received any report from the Ministry of National Defense," the statement said. "We will respect the defense ministry's arrangements."

The Chinese-language United Daily News reported yesterday that Chen plans to visit Taiping Island (太平島), the biggest atoll of the Spratlys, before the presidential election in March as the construction of an airstrip on the island is near completion.

The report claimed Chen's visit is aimed at claiming sovereignty over the islands and attracting domestic and international attention.

The Spratly Islands, which are located 1,600km southwest of Kaohsiung City, consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs surrounded by rich fishing grounds and oil reserves.

The islands are claimed either entirely or partially by Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines. While Taiwan controls Taiping Island, China, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam have stationed small numbers of troops on other islands.

The military resumed construction of an airstrip on Taiping Island last year. The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) criticized the process, saying it was being rushed so that Chen could inaugurate the facility in a ceremony planned for last month.

The military said the construction was not resumed to provide Chen with a "going away present," but to develop the island and facilitate the import of medical supplies. The military also promised that animals and plants on the island would not be harmed by the construction process. The island is home to green turtles, a vulnerable protected species.
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