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Lawrence Chung

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen briefly boarded a naval warship on Wednesday and addressed its crew before it set off to “defend Taiwan’s territory” in the South China Sea.
The naval patrol to Taiping Island in an disputed area of the ocean’s waters comes after an international tribunal ruled that it was merely a “rock” that conferred no maritime rights to a 200- nautical mile exclusive economic zone.
Tsai told the crew on board the frigate to do all they could to safeguard Taiwan’s sovereignty in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.
China calls for fresh talks with Philippines to resolve South China Sea disputes after UN ruling
The president, who is commander in chief of Taiwan’s armed forces, said: “Your patrol mission to the South China Sea, which is being conducted ahead of schedule, is highly significant in view of the new development,


“The South China arbitration ruling, especially in the part about Taiping Island, has seriously hurt our rights to the South China Sea islands and their relevant waters.
“This naval mission is to demonstrate the resolution of Taiwanese people in defending our national interests.”
Beijing has also praised Taiwan’s efforts to defend the Taiping Island.
Liu Zhenmin, the mainland’s vice-foreign minister, said on Wednesday that it was the common interest and responsibility of both sides to protect the maritime rights of the South China Sea.
The international tribunal in The Hague on Tuesday dismissed mainland China’s claims to much of the South China Sea.
But it also ruled that features that remain above water at high tide in the Spratlys had the legal status of “rocks”, including Taiping, which is administered by Taiwan.
Taipei has attacked the tribunal’s findings, saying it has long considered the 46-hectare feature an island.
Beijing may have lost the court case, but it still rules the South China Sea
Tsai, however, also sounded a more conciliatory note in saying that Taiwan still supported resolving maritime and territorial disputes through negotiations in a peaceful manner.
“We are willing to join other countries in promoting peace and stability in the South China Sea under a equal footing,” she said.


Tsai’s government held a national security meeting before the ruling was announced on Tuesday.
It decided to reject the tribunal findings, given that they have no legal binding force.
The government also said Taiwan was never invited to take part in the arbitration process, nor had its opinions been sought.
Several government agencies, including the foreign, defence, interior and mainland affairs ministries, all issued statements rejecting the ruling. They also upheld Taiwan’s historical claims to islands in the South China Sea.
US urges all countries to adhere to South China Sea ruling
Chiu Chui-cheng, vice chairman of Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, said the tribunal’s rejection of the “nine-dash line”, which mark mainland China’s claims to much of the South China Sea, was also unacceptable.
“The Republic of China [in Taiwan] enjoys the rights to various South China Sea islands and relevant waters in line with international law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the locations of those South China Sea islands are based on the map [the ROC] had drawn in 1947,” Chiu said.
There had been speculation that Taipei might drop its historical claims in the South China Sea, but this was dismissed by the government.
All political parties in Taiwan, including the main opposition Kuomintang, are supporting the government’s position in rejecting the tribunal ruling.
Some KMT lawmakers urged the government to send more frigates to patrol the area around Taiping.
Others said Tsai should have led the naval frigate sailing to Taiping to uphold Taiwan’s claims.


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South China Sea: Hague case

Tsai Ing-wen tells warship crew to defend Taiwan’s interests as they set off for island in South China Sea

Taipei has rejected an international tribunal ruling that questions its legal right to claim waters around Taiping Island in a disputed area of the ocean

epa05422397 A handout picture made available by the Office of the President Taiwan shows Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen (C) on an inspection while aboard the Taiwanese Navy warship Kang Ding, a LaFayette-class missile frigate, before it sets sail to Taiping Island in the South China Sea, at the Naval base in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan, 13 July 2016. On 12 July 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that China has no legal basis for its historic claim over South China Sea islands. The ruling also defined Taiping Island, claimed by both China and Taiwan and currently held by Taiwan troops, is a rock. Taiwan Presidential Office said that the ruling has seriously damaged Taiwan's interests. 'As the Republic of China (ROC, Taiwan's formal title) was not invited to the arbitration and ROC's opinion was not sought, the ROC does not accept this ruling and it has no binding power over ROC,' the statement said. EPA/OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT TAIWAN / HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL

epa05422396 A handout picture made available by the Office of the President Taiwan shows Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen (C-L) speaking to Taiwanese navy officers before they board the Taiwanese Navy warship Kang Ding, a LaFayette-class missile frigate, before it sets sail to Taiping Island in the South China Sea at the Naval base in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan, 13 July 2016. On 12 July 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that China has no legal basis for its historic claim over South China Sea islands. The ruling also defined Taiping Island, claimed by both China and Taiwan and currently held by Taiwan troops, is a rock. Taiwan Presidential Office said that the ruling has seriously damaged Taiwan's interests. 'As the Republic of China (ROC, Taiwan's formal title) was not invited to the arbitration and ROC's opinion was not sought, the ROC does not accept this ruling and it has no binding power over ROC,' the statement said. EPA/OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT TAIWAN /

President Tsai Ing-wen walks aboard the frigate on Wednesday at a naval base in Kaohsiung. Photo: EPA

Beijing may have lost the court case, but it still rules the South China Sea

China can strengthen its hand even further – morally as well as geopolitically – by giving back to its neighbours some of what it has claimed and gained.

In this Friday, July 8, 2016 photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese missile frigate Yuncheng launches an anti-ship missile during a military exercise in the waters near south China's Hainan Island and Paracel Islands. They are controlled by Beijing but also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan. China's navy is holding a week of military drills around the disputed islands ahead of a ruling by an international tribunal in a case filed by the Philippines challenging China's claim to most of the South China Sea. China is boycotting the case before The Hague-based court and says it will not accept the verdict. (Zha Chunming/Xinhua via AP)

FILE - In this Friday, June 10, 2016, file photo, a protester has her cheek painted with a slogan outside the Chinese Consulate during a protest against China's occupation and island-building in the disputed Spratly Island group in the South China Sea, in Makati city's financial district east of Manila, Philippines. A case brought by the Philippines against China in an international tribunal deciding the claim, represents a diplomatic dilemma for far-flung nations as Washington and Beijing rally support for their respective positions on the use of international arbitration in South China Sea disputes. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

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Indonesia’s Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu gestures during an interview in June. Photo: Reuters

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A Chinese soldier takes aim during a military drill in the South China Sea. Photo: SCMP Pictures

This undated handout photo taken from the Facebook account of Kalayaan Atin Ito (Kalayaan This Is Ours), a group of Filipino activists, and made available to Agence France-Presse on June 13, 2016 shows a Filipino activist holding a Philippine flag while a Chinese coast guard ship sails close by their ship at the Scarborough Shoal, just 230 kilometres (143 miles) off the main Philippine island of Luzon, in the South China Sea. Filipino protesters said on June 13, 2016 China's coast guard blocked and sprayed them with water as their small group sailed to a Chinese-controlled South China Sea shoal to mark Philippine independence day. / AFP PHOTO / KALAYAAN ATIN TIO / STR / -----EDITORS NOTE --- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / KALAYAAN ATIN TIO" - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS - NO ARCHIVES

Hague decision on South China Sea puts US and China on collision course

US fighter planes fly above the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis in the Philippine Sea. Two US aircraft carriers have started exercises in the area, defence officials said on June 19, as Washington's ally Manila faces growing pressure from Beijing in the South China Sea. Photo: AFP

epa05390685 Filipino President-elect Rodrigo Duterte speaks to supporters during a visit in the island of Cebu, Philippines, 25 June 2016. President Duterte said he would offer more cash as bounty for the death of criminals who are planning to liquidate him, days before his inaguration into office. Duterte is set to take his seat as the 16th President of the Republic of the Philippines on June 30. EPA/JAY ROMMEL LABRA

Debunking 10 myths about China and the South China Sea

Wang Wen says if peace and development in the South China Sea are to continue, there is a need to clarify the misunderstandings that abound about Beijing’s legally sound claims, intentions and activities in the region

This photo taken on June 18, 2016 and released June 19, 2016 by the US Navy shows a flight formation of Boeing F/A-18E and F Super Hornets from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 and 9 above the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) in the Philippine Sea. Two US aircraft carriers have started exercises in the Philippine Sea, defence officials said June 19, as Washington's close ally Manila faces growing pressure from Beijing in the South China Sea. / AFP PHOTO / US NAVY / STEVE SMITH / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / US NAVY / STEVE SMITH" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

Activists hold a protest in front of the Chinese Consular Office in Manila on June 10, 2016. The protesters shouted slogans against China's reclamation and construction activities on islands and reefs in the Spratly Group of the South China Sea that are also claimed by the Philippines. / AFP PHOTO / NOEL CELIS

This undated handout photo released by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) shows the alleged reclamation by China on what is internationally recognised as the Johnson South Reef in the South China Sea, otherwise known as the Mabini Reef by the Philippines and Chigua Reef by China. The Philippines warned on May 14 that China may be building an airstrip on a reef in the South China Sea, boosting the superpower's claim to most of the strategic Asian waters. AFP PHOTO / DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (DFA) --- EDITORS NOTE -- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (DFA)" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS --- THIS PICTURE WAS MADE AVAILABLE BY A THIRD PARTY. AFP CAN NOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, LOCATION, DATE AND CONTENT OF THIS IMAGE. THIS PHOTO IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY AFP.

In this Sept. 14, 2014 photo, Chinese tourists take souvenir photos with Chinese national flag as they visit to Quanfu island, a Paracels of Sansha prefecture of China's Hainan province. A cheer erupted on board at the sight of the distant land, and passengers scurried to take pictures of each other at the railing holding China’s bright red flag. (AP Photo/Peng Peng)

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Taipei has rejected an international tribunal ruling that questions its legal right to claim waters around Taiping Island in a disputed area of the ocean
