The marines are keeping a heavy presence on the strategic Pratas Islands (
A small group of reporters was briefed by the military during a rare visit to the horseshoe-shaped coral reef archipelago, about 430km south of Kaohsiung.
Pratas provides a vital South China Sea base against Chinese offensives and gives the military at least five additional minutes of warning against air attacks. The outpost is also a key staging area for anti-submarine warfare.
During the recent rise in tensions between Taiwan and China, there has been speculation that the Chinese would try to scare Taiwan by seizing Pratas, which Taiwanese troops have occupied for more than 40 years.
Although the military would not discuss the specifics of Taiwan's strategy and defense of Pratas, officers said the 2.4-square-kilometer island was secure.
"We're keeping the necessary force to keep communist China away,'' said General Chang Cheng-chung, who declined to say how many marines were based on the island. ``We're confident we can continue to carry out this mission."
Taiwanese military analyst Chung Chien (
"If China wanted to easily grab some Taiwan-controlled territory, there are plenty of lightly defended rocks they would probably choose first," Chung said.
But Chung added that the island's strategic importance would make it a tempting target.
"If anyone could grab Pratas, they could control traffic between Taiwan, the Philippines and Hong Kong," he said.
During the four hour tour of Pratas, reporters were blocked from visiting most of the island, including its labyrinth of underground bunkers.
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