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進入《TAIPEI TIMES 焦點》 Eric Chu advocates Itu Aba flights
A pillar reading ‘Republic of China, Spratly Islands, Taiping Island,’ stands against the sky in an undated photograph taken on Taiping Island. Photo: CNA
TAPPING TAIPING: The KMT’s presidential candidate said that if he is elected he would propose establishing ‘basic facilities’ and ‘regular weekly flights’ to the island
By Stacy Hsu / Staff reporter
Amid simmering tensions in the South China Sea, Chinese Nationalist Party （KMT） presidential candidate Eric Chu （朱立倫） yesterday said that, if he is elected as president, he would propose the launch of regular flights to Itu Aba Island （Taiping Island, 太平島） to allow Taiwanese to visit the nation’s territory.
“The government has not done enough on the Taiping Island issue. To bring Taiwanese closer to the naturally occurring island does not require excessive development,” Chu said during an interview on radio show UFO Breakfast yesterday morning, in response to questions on how he would address the territorial disputes in the South China Sea if he wins the January election.
“Some basic facilities, coupled with the island’s natural scenery and regular weekly flights, would be sufficient to allow more Taiwanese to visit and tour one of the nation’s territories,” Chu said.
Chu’s remarks came days after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs refused to recognize or accept any rulings by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Netherlands, which on Thursday last week ruled it has jurisdiction to hear the Philippines’ maritime complaints against China over disputed territory in the South China Sea.
Taiwan has controlled Itu Aba — in the Spratly Islands （Nansha Islands, 南沙群島） — since Republic of China （ROC） forces began to garrison the island in 1956. It is currently manned by coast guard personnel, who were deployed after the ROC Marine Corps were pulled out in 1999.
Taiwan claims the entire Spratly chain.
Given that the interests of the US and other claimants in the South China Sea, including China, Vietnam and the Philippines, are primarily economic, Chu said he plans to shelve sovereignty disputes and welcomes all interested parties to jointly develop the resources in the area.
The approach would put Taiwan in a position to spearhead and promote joint development in the region, as Itu Aba is the largest naturally occurring island of the Spratly Island group, while the islands claimed by other parties are artificial, Chu said.
Despite growing tensions in the area following the high-profile passage of a US Navy destroyer within 12 nautical miles （22.2km） of artificial islands claimed by China, Chu dismissed calls for marines to be sent back to Itu Aba, saying the chance of a significant military conflict occurring there is slim.
Regarding Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen’s （蔡英文） campaign promise to manufacture submarines and fighter jets domestically, Chu said issues such as cross-strait security and the increasing technological complexity of military hardware must be taken into account when determining whether the nation needs such a large stockpile of military equipment.
“We should focus on the technologization of war. Whether it is necessary for the nation to develop and build its own submarines and fighter jets still requires further evaluation,” Chu said.
Chu, who doubles as KMT chairman, dismissed rumors of dischord between himself and Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng （王金平） over uncertainty surrounding Wang’s potential bid for a fourth term as a legislator-at-large.
“There has been absolutely no conversation between myself and Speaker Wang that would suggest a falling out,” Chu said.
Chu said he did not have any allies or foes in the party, nor did he play any part in the wrangling among former president Lee Teng-hui （李登輝）, former vice president Lien Chan （連戰） and People First Party （PFP） Chairman James Soong （宋楚瑜）, or between Wang and President Ma Ying-jeou （馬英九）.
“These are the interests of the previous generation,” he said.
新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES
