Ahead of the ruling by an international tribunal on a dispute between the Philippines and China over sovereignty claims in the South China Sea, a senior government official expressed concerns that Taiwan does not having sufficient defense capacity on Itu Aba (Taiping Island, 太平島), which might make it “a piece of meat amid a pack of wolves” as surrounding nations have been strengthening their military capacities.
Itu Aba is the biggest feature in the Spratly Islands (Nansha Islands, 南沙群島) and is controlled by the Republic of China (ROC). The Spratlys are claimed whole or in part by Taiwan, China, the Philippines, Vietnam Malaysia and Brunei.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that at the moment, Taiping is guarded by Coast Guard Administration (CGA) personnel, and while these personnel were trained by ROC Marines before being deployed, the main mission for them is “law enforcement,” which is different from what the marines do.
Photo: Johnson Lai, AP
The most powerful weapon on the island are the Bofors 40mm guns lent by the armed forces, which have a maximum firing range of 7,100m if fired into the air and 10,000m if fired horizontally, the official said.
The army has also transferred several 120mm mortars to the coast guard personnel stationed on the island, which have a maximum range of 6,100m, the official said.
While the defense capabilities on Itu Aba might seem stronger with the arrival of this weaponry, Vietnam has guns with different firing ranges on Namyit Island (Hongsiou Island, 鴻庥島), which is 20km from Taiping, and Sandy Cay (Duncian Shajou, 敦謙沙洲), which is 11km away, the official said.
Vietnam has stationed 122mm howitzers on Namyit that have a range that covers Itu Aba, while Vietnam last year began dispatching more weapons to Sandy Cay that could threaten it, the official said.
If a conflict broke out between Taiwan and Vietnam over the South China Sea, “the Vietnamese are capable of attacking Taiping Island, while our coast guard weapons on Taiping are unable to reach Namyit Island and Sandy Cay,” the official said.
China has built up a heavy military presence on the Fiery Cross Reef (Yongshu Reef, 永暑礁), which is about 190km southwest of Itu Aba, with one battalion of soldiers stationed there, an airbase capable of catering to large military aircraft, and anti-aircraft and anti-ship missiles, the official said.
If the situation changes in South China Sea, Taiwan should pay special attention to movements of China’s People’s Liberation Army forces on Fiery Cross Reef, the official added.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration is scheduled to deliver its ruling tomorrow in The Hague.
In related news, a coast guard ship yesterday set sail for the South China Sea to patrol Itu Aba and other islands controlled by Taiwan, the CGA said.
The Wei Hsing cutter will join the rotation of ships dispatched by the Ministry of National Defense to safeguard Taiwan’s territories, the CGA said.
Additional reporting by CNA and staff writer
‘DENIAL DEFENSE’: The US would increase its military presence with uncrewed ships, and submarines, while boosting defense in the Indo-Pacific, a Pete Hegseth memo said The US is reorienting its military strategy to focus primarily on deterring a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, a memo signed by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth showed. The memo also called on Taiwan to increase its defense spending. The document, known as the “Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance,” was distributed this month and detailed the national defense plans of US President Donald Trump’s administration, an article in the Washington Post said on Saturday. It outlines how the US can prepare for a potential war with China and defend itself from threats in the “near abroad,” including Greenland and the Panama
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is maintaining close ties with Beijing, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said yesterday, hours after a new round of Chinese military drills in the Taiwan Strait began. Political parties in a democracy have a responsibility to be loyal to the nation and defend its sovereignty, DPP spokesman Justin Wu (吳崢) told a news conference in Taipei. His comments came hours after Beijing announced via Chinese state media that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command was holding large-scale drills simulating a multi-pronged attack on Taiwan. Contrary to the KMT’s claims that it is staunchly anti-communist, KMT Deputy
RESPONSE: The government would investigate incidents of Taiwanese entertainers in China promoting CCP propaganda online in contravention of the law, the source said Taiwanese entertainers living in China who are found to have contravened cross-strait regulations or collaborated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) could be subject to fines, a source said on Sunday. Several Taiwanese entertainers have posted on the social media platform Sina Weibo saying that Taiwan “must be returned” to China, and sharing news articles from Chinese state media. In response, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has asked the Ministry of Culture to investigate whether the entertainers had contravened any laws, and asked for them to be questioned upon their return to Taiwan, an official familiar with the matter said. To curb repeated
Myanmar has turned down an offer of assistance from Taiwanese search-and-rescue teams after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck the nation on Friday last week, saying other international aid is sufficient, the National Fire Agency said yesterday. More than 1,700 have been killed and 3,400 injured in the quake that struck near the central Myanmar city of Mandalay early on Friday afternoon, followed minutes later by a magnitude 6.7 aftershock. Worldwide, 13 international search-and-rescue teams have been deployed, with another 13 teams mobilizing, the agency said. Taiwan’s search-and-rescue teams were on standby, but have since been told to stand down, as