TAIPEI, Taiwan (Reuters) — Taiwan would like to peacefully resolve any disputes that might arise from the international court ruling in the South China Sea, but will be steadfast in maintaining its rights in Itu Aba, the sole Taiwan-held island in the Spratlys, senior government officials said Monday (July 11).
Taiwan is one of the claimant which will be affected by the arbitration result in the case before The Hague between the Philippines and China.
“We will make a response, a strong response. Taiping island is an island, everybody knows that. We have communicated that to the international (community) several times,” said Deputy Foreign Minister Leo Lee responding to a lawmaker’s question about what would happen if the court in The Hague were to downgrade Itu Aba from its disputed status as an island.
Such a downgrading would implicate changes to Taiwan’s sovereignty claims in the South China Sea.
Lee added any ruling by the court will not be of consequence for Taiwan, due to the island’s international status.
“I think, because Taiwan is not, how should I say this, (Taiwan) is not a party to this arbitration court, so from a legal point of view any decision by (this court) will not be binding to us,” he said.
Taiwan coast guards, which directly oversees Itu Aba, or Taiping island as it is referred to in Taiwan, with the support of the military, will not “soften” its defense of the island, coast guard chief Lee Chung-wei told lawmakers, but officials didn’t say whether Taiwan would strengthen its defenses.