I

n recent years, parties have remained at odds in sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea. In January 2013, the Philippines initiated arbitration against mainland China in accordance with Annex VII of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). During the second hearing from Nov. 24 to 30, 2015, the Philippines claimed that Taiping Island was a rock and not an island and that it therefore should not have any maritime entitlements beyond 12 nautical miles. While the Philippines challenged the status of Taiping Island, which is a territory of the Republic of China (particularly, Taiwan), and the largest naturally formed island (with an area of 0.51 square kilometers) in the Nansha Islands (or Spratly Islands), the recent Peace Initiative advocated by Taiwan'€™s President Ma Ying-jeou points out a feasible solution to South China Sea disputes.

An expert group and high-ranking officials, among them the foreign minister, Taiwanese government officials and scholars, made an inspection journey to the rocky islet on Jan. 28, 2016. While reiterating Taiwan'€™s sovereignty over the island and full rights associated with territorial waters, a contiguous zone, an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and a continental shelf in accordance with UNCLOS, President Ma also highlighted plans for the peaceful use of Taiping Island, and unveiled the South China Sea Peace Initiative Roadmap.

As the US expressed on Thursday its appreciation for that road map, Taiwan has been taking Taiping Island as the starting point for the implementation of the overall integrated plan. The peaceful use of Taiping Island by Taiwan properly demonstrates a feasible solution to South China Sea disputes. As long as all parties concerned are included in talks and allowed to cooperate on a variety of issues, fair and reciprocal win-win results can be achieved.

Liang-Jen Chang
Representative
Taipei Economic and Trade Office in Indonesia