President Ma Ying-jeou says the Republic of China will not be absent from future talks over territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Ma was speaking Monday at an exhibit featuring historic documents about the region. The Republic of China is Taiwan’s official name.
Ma said not only did Taiwan publish a map showing the islands in the South China Sea as early as 1935, the government has also built the infrastructure, telecommunication and photovoltaic projects there.
Ma said Taiwan has sovereignty over parts of the South China Sea as shown by historic records. He said Taiwan will not be absent from future talks over territorial disputes.
“Those projects are for peace, not military purposes," said Ma. "On the one hand, they will help our people learn more about Taiwan’s territory in the South China Sea. On the other hand, we want to let the world know that Taiwan has done a good job in managing those islands."
The president called for peaceful means to solve territorial disputes. Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and China all claim parts of the South China Sea.