The foreign ministry says it will not accept an upcoming ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration on territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
The Hague-based court is expected to rule within the year on a case brought by the Philippines against China, both claimants to disputed areas of the sea.
The foreign ministry’s rejection of the ruling came Wednesday after a call by US President Barack Obama for all parties with claims in the South China Sea to resolve issues through arbitration.
The foreign ministry said Taiwan agrees to President Obama’s call as it is in line with President Ma Ying-jeou’s South China Sea Peace Initiative. However, it said the Permanent Court of Arbitration has never sought Taiwan’s opinion, while the Philippines has not invited Taiwan to participate in the arbitration process.
The foreign ministry also said the ruling will not affect Taiwan’s sovereignty over Taiping Island and other disputed islets in the South China Sea.