Defense Minister Feng Shih-kuan says all military facilities and their uses on Taiping Island in the South China Sea are considered classified information. Feng was speaking Tuesday at the Legislature.
Feng was speaking after an updated aerial view of Taiping appeared on the internet courtesy of virtual map engine Google Earth. The updated view seemed to show new military structures being built on the northwest coast of the island.
Taiping is the largest of the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. The islands are claimed in whole or in part by Taiwan, China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei. In July, the Hague Tribunal ruled that the island is a reef and not an island according to international law. Taiwan has refused to acknowledge the ruling.
The defense minister said his office will approach Google Earth soon to address the map update. Premier Lin Chuan meanwhile said the matter must be dealt with immediately.