Amid simmering tensions in the South China Sea, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Eric Chu (朱立倫) yesterday said that, if he is elected as president, he would propose the launch of regular flights to Itu Aba Island (Taiping Island, 太平島) to allow Taiwanese to visit the nation’s territory.
“The government has not done enough on the Taiping Island issue. To bring Taiwanese closer to the naturally occurring island does not require excessive development,” Chu said during an interview on radio show UFO Breakfast yesterday morning, in response to questions on how he would address the territorial disputes in the South China Sea if he wins the January election.
“Some basic facilities, coupled with the island’s natural scenery and regular weekly flights, would be sufficient to allow more Taiwanese to visit and tour one of the nation’s territories,” Chu said.
Photo: CNA
Chu’s remarks came days after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs refused to recognize or accept any rulings by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Netherlands, which on Thursday last week ruled it has jurisdiction to hear the Philippines’ maritime complaints against China over disputed territory in the South China Sea.
Taiwan has controlled Itu Aba — in the Spratly Islands (Nansha Islands, 南沙群島) — since Republic of China (ROC) forces began to garrison the island in 1956. It is currently manned by coast guard personnel, who were deployed after the ROC Marine Corps were pulled out in 1999.
Taiwan claims the entire Spratly chain.
Given that the interests of the US and other claimants in the South China Sea, including China, Vietnam and the Philippines, are primarily economic, Chu said he plans to shelve sovereignty disputes and welcomes all interested parties to jointly develop the resources in the area.
The approach would put Taiwan in a position to spearhead and promote joint development in the region, as Itu Aba is the largest naturally occurring island of the Spratly Island group, while the islands claimed by other parties are artificial, Chu said.
Despite growing tensions in the area following the high-profile passage of a US Navy destroyer within 12 nautical miles (22.2km) of artificial islands claimed by China, Chu dismissed calls for marines to be sent back to Itu Aba, saying the chance of a significant military conflict occurring there is slim.
Regarding Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) campaign promise to manufacture submarines and fighter jets domestically, Chu said issues such as cross-strait security and the increasing technological complexity of military hardware must be taken into account when determining whether the nation needs such a large stockpile of military equipment.
“We should focus on the technologization of war. Whether it is necessary for the nation to develop and build its own submarines and fighter jets still requires further evaluation,” Chu said.
Chu, who doubles as KMT chairman, dismissed rumors of dischord between himself and Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) over uncertainty surrounding Wang’s potential bid for a fourth term as a legislator-at-large.
“There has been absolutely no conversation between myself and Speaker Wang that would suggest a falling out,” Chu said.
Chu said he did not have any allies or foes in the party, nor did he play any part in the wrangling among former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), former vice president Lien Chan (連戰) and People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜), or between Wang and President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).
“These are the interests of the previous generation,” he said.
CSBC Corp, Taiwan (台灣國際造船) yesterday released the first video documenting the submerged sea trials of Taiwan’s indigenous defense submarine prototype, the Hai Kun (海鯤), or Narwhal, showing underwater navigation and the launch of countermeasures. The footage shows the vessel’s first dive, steering and control system tests, and the raising and lowering of the periscope and antenna masts. It offered a rare look at the progress in the submarine’s sea acceptance tests. The Hai Kun carried out its first shallow-water diving trial late last month and has since completed four submerged tests, CSBC said. The newly released video compiles images recorded from Jan. 29 to
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) plans to make advanced 3-nanometer chips in Japan, stepping up its semiconductor manufacturing roadmap in the country in a triumph for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s technology ambitions. TSMC is to adopt cutting-edge technology for its second wafer fab in Kumamoto, company chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) said yesterday. That is an upgrade from an original blueprint to produce 7-nanometer chips by late next year, people familiar with the matter said. TSMC began mass production at its first plant in Japan’s Kumamoto in late 2024. Its second fab, which is still under construction, was originally focused on
DETERRENCE EFFORTS: Washington and partners hope demonstrations of force would convince Beijing that military action against Taiwan would carry high costs The US is considering using HMAS Stirling in Western Australia as a forward base to strengthen its naval posture in a potential conflict with China, particularly over Taiwan, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday. As part of its Indo-Pacific strategy, Washington plans to deploy up to four nuclear-powered submarines at Stirling starting in 2027, providing a base near potential hot spots such as Taiwan and the South China Sea. The move also aims to enhance military integration with Pacific allies under the Australia-UK-US trilateral security partnership, the report said. Currently, US submarines operate from Guam, but the island could
RESTRAINTS: Should China’s actions pose any threat to Taiwan’s security, economic or social systems, China would be excluded from major financial institutions, the bill says The US House of Representatives on Monday passed the PROTECT Taiwan Act, which states that Washington would exclude China from participating in major global financial organizations if its actions directly threaten Taiwan’s security. The bill, proposed by Republican Representative Frank Lucas, passed with 395 votes in favor and two against. It stipulates that if China’s actions pose any threat to Taiwan’s security, economic or social systems, the US would, “to the maximum extent practicable,” exclude Beijing from international financial institutions, including the G20, the Bank for International Settlements and the Financial Stability Board. The bill makes it clear that China must be prepared
RSS