The foreign ministry says it is watching as a court in The Hague prepares to give its verdict on a dispute between the Philippines and China over the South China Sea.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration is expected to deliver its verdict in the case, brought by the Philippines, on Tuesday. Beijing, which claims sovereignty over most of the sea, has already said that it will reject the court’s verdict.
Taiwan is also a claimant to the islands and marine resources of the South China Sea, including the areas disputed between Beijing and Manila. Taiwan currently administers Taiping Island, which is the largest of the Spratly Islands, as well as the Dongsha Islands. Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei also lay claim to parts of the South China Sea.
On Saturday, the foreign ministry said that Taiwan’s claims in the South China Sea are in line with international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The ministry also said that all claimants have a duty to respect freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. The foreign ministry says it hopes all sides can resolve their disputes in the area peacefully through multilateral talks.