Defense minister Yen Ming has visited Taiping Island in a show of Taiwan’s sovereignty.
Taiping Island, controlled by Taiwan, is the biggest of the contested Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. Yen’s visit on Wednesday is his first since he took office as defense minister in August last year.
In addition to Taiwan and China, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Brunei also claim sovereignty over the disputed Spratly Islands. China has expanded facilities on a South China Sea island. To counter China’s move, Taiwan is now constructing a port on Taiping Island, which is expected to be completed in late 2015. Taiwan is also considering stationing armed vessels permanently on the island.