Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan) reiterates that the Nansha Islands, the Shisha Islands, the Chungsha Islands and the Tungsha Islands, as well as their surrounding waters, sea beds and subsoil are all an inherent part of the territory of the Republic of China (Taiwan).
- Created：2011-06-17
- Data Source：Bureau Of Consular Affairs
- Counter：1908
No.192
2011/06/15
Certain countries bordering the South China Sea recently declared all or part of the Nansha Islands (Spratly Islands) and the Shisha Islands (Paracel Islands) as belonging to their territory. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan) reiterates its position as follows:
- Whether looked at from the perspective of history, geography or international law, the Nansha Islands (Spratly Islands), the Shisha Islands (Paracel Islands), the Chungsha Islands (Macclesfield Bank) and the Tungsha Islands (Pratas Islands), as well as their surrounding waters, sea beds and subsoil, are all an inherent part of the territory of the Republic of China (Taiwan). These archipelagoes therefore fall under the sovereignty of the Republic of China (Taiwan), and the government reasserts that it enjoys all rights over the islands and their surrounding waters, and that it does not accept any claim to sovereignty over, or occupation of, these areas by other countries.
- The government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) calls on countries bordering the South China Sea to respect the principles and spirit of the Charter of the United Nations and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and to refrain from adopting unilateral measures that might threaten the peace and stability of the region.
- The government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) reiterates that it upholds the basic principles of “safeguarding sovereignty, shelving disputes, peace and reciprocity, and joint exploration” and remains willing to work with other countries on exploring resources in the South China Sea.
- The government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) also urges the countries concerned to exercise self-restraint so that peaceful resolutions to disputes can be reached through consultation and dialogue. Taiwan remains willing to participate in such dialogue that seeks to find resolutions to disputes and promote regional peace, stability and development. (E)