Taiwan is keeping a close watch on activities in the South China Sea. That was the word from the military’s Deputy Chief of General Staff Hsu Yen-pu, at the legislature on Monday.
The South China Sea is strategically important as one-third of the world’s shipping passes through those waters. Islands in the region are disputed and claimed by Taiwan, China and other neighboring countries.
Legislators have raised concerns about recent Chinese activity in the disputed waters. When asked about the possible military threat, Hsu said Taiwan would maintain its policy of being neither provocative nor cowardly. He said the public can rest assured that the military is prepared to deal with any situation that may arise.
Hsu also said that according to international law, Taiwan has sovereignty over the islands and waters in the South China Sea.
Recent Japanese media reports have said that China’s People Liberation Army is planning to conduct a large-scale landing exercise in the South China Sea in August. Hsu said that’s just speculation and declined to comment on the reports.