Taiwan’s Policy towards the South China Sea
75securing its national sovereignty was then combined with a continued call
for joint development of the region.
Rising to power in 2008, President Ma Ying-jeou continued to follow
the policy established by his predecessors. In a statement on the South
China Sea from July 29, 2011, Ma’s administration (through the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs) reiterated the Republic of China’s (Taiwan) sovereignty
over the Spratly Islands, the Paracel Islands, the Macclesfield Islands, and
Pratas Island. The statement alluded to history, geography and international
law to support this claim and referred to Taiwan’s historical claim on the
U-shaped map. Second, Ma Ying-jeou underscored the importance of the
Declaration of Conduct as the guiding framework for dispute resolution
and repeated Taiwan’s commitment to the principle of “safeguarding
sovereignty, shelving disputes, peace and reciprocity and joint
exploration” of resources.^29 In practice, Ma Ying-jeou continued to
emphasize a soft power approach on one hand, while on the other he
pushed for a decisive stance on Taiwan-controlled territory in the South
China Sea.
In 2011, Ma’s administration decided to improve the defense capability
of the 110 Coast Guard troops currently stationed on Taiping Island. A
decision was made to train these troops by the Defense Ministry's elite
Marine Corps so that they would be able to carry out sea combat and
prevention of amphibious attack, including landings by foreign forces.
This was the first time since 2000 that Taiwan chose to reinstall military
forces in the South China Sea.^30 The training expanded the Coast Guard
capabilities for military scenarios albeit–given the size of the Coast Guard
deployment on Taiping Island–it was a rather symbolic move. At the same
time, the administration in Taipei rejected any suggestions that it might be
working with Beijing over the South China Sea issue to ensure that
Chinese people, and not others, retain control over the disputed area.^31
Ma Yingjeou’s administration continued to build Taiwan’s presence on
Taiping Island. In February 2012, Taiwan announced that it would build a
7-meter high tactical air navigation (TACAN) facility to improve landing
for aircraft.^32 While^ the TACAN is not a weapon, as was highlighted by
the spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense,^33 it would make it
(^29) “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan) reiterates its
position on the South China Sea.”
(^30) Sui, “Taiwan to Boost Forces in Disputed Spratly Islands.”
(^31) These allegations were made due to the fact that Ma Yingjeou’s administration
is generally seen as friendly towards China.
(^32) “Taiwan to Build a Flight System on Disputed Isles”, 3.
(^33) “Taiwan to Build a Flight System on Disputed Isles”, 3.