The Philippine media has reported on a visit by foreign reporters to Taiping Island.
The South China Sea island is administered by Taiwan but claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, and China. The Philippines argues that the island is actually a rock, and does not entitle its owner to territorial waters or maritime economic zones under international law.
Foreign reporters visited the island on Wednesday at the invitation of the foreign ministry. It was the first time the island had been open to foreign media. The visit is intended to bolster Taiwan’s argument that Taiping Island meets the criteria for an island under international law by demonstrating its potential to support human life and economic activity.
Philippine news networks ABS-CBN and GMA, and Philippine newspapers the Philippine Daily Inquirer and the Manila Bulletin all published reports on the visit.
However, the Philippine government has not responded to an invitation for Manila to send its own representatives to visit the island.