Taipei Times
Date: Jul 17, 2016
By: Staff writer, with CNA

The Coast Guard Administration on Friday denied a media report that it would send additional equipment and personnel to Itu Aba Island (Taiping Island, 太平島) amid escalating tensions after a controversial court ruling on the islands in the South China Sea.

The administration described the report as “fabricated speculation” and urged media organizations to stop spreading groundless information and avoid fueling tensions that are detrimental to peaceful development in the region.

The report said the administration would yesterday send its frigate Taitung to Taiwan-controlled Itu Aba to relieve the frigate Wei Hsing, which has been stationed there since Sunday last week on a patrol mission to protect Taiwanese fishing boats operating there.

It added that the Taitung has been ordered to take equipment and personnel to Itu Aba for security purposes prior to a visit by President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) this week.     [FULL  STORY]