August 29, 2023
The Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs has claimed that a live-fire drill held by the Republic of China (Taiwan) in the waters surrounding Taiping Island on August 23 was a serious violation of Vietnam’s territorial sovereignty over the Nansha (Spratly) Islands. It also stated that the drill posed a threat to regional peace and stability and navigation security and that it complicated the situation in the South China Sea. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan) finds these statements unacceptable.
The R.O.C. (Taiwan) government reiterates that, in accordance with international law and the law of the sea, it retains all rights over South China Sea Islands and their relevant waters. Taiping Island is indisputably R.O.C. (Taiwan) territory, and the R.O.C. (Taiwan) government has the authority to exercise all the rights of a sovereign state over Taiping Island and its relevant waters.
The R.O.C. (Taiwan) maintains a fundamental position on South China Sea issues that centers on the four principles and five actions put forward by President Tsai Ing-wen in 2016 and seeks to address such issues in conjunction with the international community. In the spirit of equality and shared prosperity, Taiwan is willing to participate in consultation mechanisms and work with relevant countries to jointly advance peace and stability in the region.