Just before the Lunar New Year, President Chen Shui-bian (
During the visit, Chen also proposed the Spratly Initiative, focusing on environmental protection and conservation. Taiwan has already initiated a marine national park at Dongsha, a concept that will later be expanded to include the Spratlys.
This initiative is a milestone in the nation's handling of the Spratly Islands issue, and a different approach to the military occupation and tourism promoted by neighboring countries.
Chen's visit to the islands has drawn various reactions both at home and abroad. Those who opposed the visits said it was an inappropriate time for Chen to declare Taiwan's sovereignty over Taiping Island and feared the move could increase tensions in the area.
There are also environmental activists who feel the construction of an airfield on the island could destroy the environment. The strongest international reaction against the visits came in the form of strong condemnations from the foreign ministries of the Philippines and Vietnam.
Looking at the facts, the criticism was predictable and is the result of the self-interest of the different parties.
Let us take a look at the interests of the other countries that have claimed sovereignty over parts of the Spratly Islands in recent years.
Chen is by no means the only national leader to have visited one of the islands. Malaysia's then-supreme head of state, Tuanku Azlan Muhibuddin Shah ibni al-Marhum and then-premier Mahathir bin Mohamad visited Swallow Reef, which is claimed by Malaysia, in 1992 and 1994 respectively.
The island has also been developed into a tourist and diving destination. Vietnamese defense minister Van Tien Dung visited Nanwei Island in 1985, and in 1982 Philippine prime minister Cesar Virata visited Thitu, or Zhongye, Island, which is occupied by the Philippines.
Nor is Taiwan the only country to have built an airfield on one of the Spratly Islands. In the early 1970s, the Philippines built an air strip on Thitu Island, and in 1992, Malaysia built one on Swallow Reef. In addition, China has built a helicopter landing site on Mischief Reef. In building an airfield on Taiping Island, Taiwan is in fact a latecomer.
Malaysia and Vietnam are at present trying to develop islands or reefs in the Spratly Islands for tourism. In particular, Malaysia even has travel agents working actively in Taiwan to attract tourists to Swallow Reef.
Vietnam has built a satellite receiver, a research station, a lighthouse and a harbor on the islands and reefs that it occupies, while China has built a meteorological and a hydrological station on Yongshu Reef.
To lessen tensions over the Spratlys, ASEAN and China signed the Declaration on the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea in 2002 without notifying Taiwan, seriously neglecting Taiwan's rights in this area. At the time, Taiwan issued a strong protest. Then, in 2004, China and the Philippines signed an agreement regarding the exploration of resources in the Spratlys, which drew protests from Vietnam. After talks, the three countries signed a tripartite agreement on joint marine seismic work in the South China Sea area of cooperation. The extent of the studies under this agreement was not disclosed.
This move seriously hurt Taiwan's rights in the Spratly Islands and strictly speaking, this kind of confidential agreement is not legally binding in the international community since it may have a negative impact on the rights of third parties.
Faced with these developments, how could Taiwan not act? Anyone with the barest understanding of how the international community works will see that if Taiwan had not taken action, it would be cut up in the slaughterhouse of international scheming and plotting. Taiwan's constructing an airfield on Taiping Island and Chen's visit cannot be described as Taiwan making a strong stand, but are rather necessary reactions to the international environment.
Taiwan does not offend others, but is still offended by them. If we stand for such behavior, then what else won't we stand for?
Taiwan's suggestion that the Spratlys become the target of environmental protection and conservation measures will lower tension over the islands, as other countries compete to develop oil and natural gas fields in their pursuit of natural resources. This kind of development will destroy the pristine Spratlys, biological habitats on the seabed as well as bird habitats on the islands.
In the 1930s, Japan built a light railway on Taiping and Spratly islands to facilitate the transportation of guano to the transport ships. Documentation shows an abundance of bird species at that time and that there were so many birds they would block the sky when taking flight. These days, there is scarcely a trace of birds on these islands and reefs because they have been scared away by regular military exercises.
Taiwan's call for environmental protection and conservation should be taken seriously by the neighboring countries. China, Vietnam and the Philippines should put an end to their surreptitious exploration of natural resources on these islands and partake in Taiwan's initiative. This would be an important step toward relaxing tension over the islands.
Chen Hurng-yu is a professor at Tamkang University's Graduate Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.
Translated by Perry Svensson
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