South China Sea: Philippines protests over Taiwan’s live-fire drills
- Manila condemns military exercises near Taiping Island as ‘unlawful’
- Boats and aircraft urged to avoid area as Taiwanese weapons fire into air and sea
In a notice issued by the administration, vessels and aircraft were urged to avoid the area.
Taiwan reveals plans for live-fire drills at islets near Chinese mainland
The drills are also expected to feature Kestrel anti-tank systems, which were developed by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, Taiwan’s top weapon builder.
The shoulder-launched systems can penetrate up to 60cm (23.6 inches) of reinforced concrete, making them effective in countering potential amphibious attacks from the People’s Liberation Army.
“The Philippines expresses its strong objection over the unlawful live-fire drills to be conducted by Taiwan (China) on 28 to 29 June 2022 within the vicinity of Ligaw Island,” the country’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday, using the Philippine name for Taiping Island.
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The Philippines’ ministry said the islet was “an integral part of the Kalayaan Island Group over which the Philippines has sovereignty”.
It stressed that the “illegal activity raises tensions and complicates the situation in the South China Sea”.
Taiping is the largest land feature of the disputed Spratly group of islands, which are claimed in part or wholly by Taiwan, Brunei, mainland China, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.
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“Taiwan has the right to conduct regular exercises at Taiping and its surrounding waters,” the Taiwanese ministry said on Wednesday.
It said Taiwan had issued notices before the exercises to warn vessels and aircraft not to operate near the area.
The ministry said disputes in the region should be settled peacefully by all parties concerned in line with international laws, adding Taipei was willing to take part in negotiations over the South China Sea on an equal basis to jointly promote peace and stability in the region.
Vietnam has also been vocal in claiming Taiping as its territory and has frequently protested against Taiwan’s live-fire drills on the islet.
In April, the Philippines and Vietnam criticised a reported plan by the Taiwanese military to extend Taiping’s runway to facilitate the landing and take-off of fighter jets and anti-submarine aircraft, saying it stoked tensions in the disputed waters.
Taiping is located in the northwestern part of the Spratly Islands, 1,500km (930 miles) from Taiwan, 777km from Vietnam and 853km from the Philippines.
In 2000, the Taiwanese coastguard took over the defence of Taiping and the Pratas Islands from the marines, but personnel posted there are either trained by the marines or members of the marine corps.