SENSITIVE TIMING:Minister of National Defense Feng Shih-kuan turned down an invitation to join the trip, despite previously saying he would go if one was organized

Taipei Times
Date: Jul 19, 2016
By: Stacy Hsu / Staff reporter, with CNA

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) yesterday announced a plan to arrange for members of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee to visit Itu Aba Island (Taiping Island, 太平島) tomorrow, in an effort to safeguard the nation’s sovereignty claims over the contested land feature.

“I contacted the Ministry of National Defense today and confirmed that members of the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee will make a trip to Itu Aba on Wednesday,” Chiang said.

Chiang said that as participants would be traveling on a routine military supply flight to Itu Aba — which only has seven extra seats — members of the legislative committee would enjoy priority registration for the visit.

However, Chiang expressed disappointment over Minister of National Defense Feng Shih-kuan’s (馮世寬) decision to turn down his invitation on the grounds that the timing was too sensitive for such a visit.     [FULL  STORY]