Taipei, August 2: The Taiwanese government reiterated its claims of sovereignty over islands in the South China Sea on Sunday. This statement follows the Philippines’ submission of an official maritime map of Scarborough Shoal to the United Nations (UN).
According to Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that any disputes related to the South China Sea should be resolved peacefully under international law and maritime regulations. The ministry emphasized that Taiwan should be included in the mechanisms for resolving such multilateral disputes.
This declaration from Taiwan came after the Philippines submitted its official maritime map of Scarborough Shoal to the UN last week, aiming to reaffirm its claim over the atoll also claimed by Manila, Taipei, and Beijing.
In a statement, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs noted, “This submission is made under Article 16 of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).” The department explained that coastal nations are required to publish official maps that depict the baselines from which their territorial sea width is measured.
Scarborough Shoal is referred to as ‘Bajo de Masinloc’ in the Philippines, ‘Democracy Reef’ in Taiwan, and ‘Huangyan Dao’ in China. All three countries assert claims over this area.
On July 31, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized the Philippines for determining the so-called “territorial sea baselines” of Huangyan Dao, labeling the move as “illegal, invalid, and meaningless.”
China stated that the Philippines’ actions constitute a serious violation of its territorial sovereignty and contravene international law, including the UN Charter and UNCLOS.
In its statement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry declared, “China completely rejects this move and will never accept it. Huangyan Dao is an integral part of China. China has long exercised its sovereignty and rights over this area in a peaceful and effective manner.”
The statement further asserted, “The Philippines’ boundaries have been established through various international treaties, and Huangyan Dao has never been part of it. Therefore, the Philippines’ claim over this area is entirely baseless under international law.”
The Chinese Foreign Ministry also stated that the Philippines’ unilateral initiation of the “South China Sea Arbitration” violates fundamental principles of international law, such as pacta sunt servanda and estoppel. According to China, this action contradicts UNCLOS, bilateral agreements between China and the Philippines, and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).
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