Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/07/20
By: Justine Su and Lilian Wu
Taipei, July 20 (CNA) A group of lawmakers who had traveled to Taiwan-controlled Taiping
Island in the South China Sea said Wednesday that it is “absolutely an island,” rather than a rock, as ruled by an international tribunal.
Chiang Chi-chen (江啟臣), an opposition Kuomintang (KMT) legislator and convener of the Legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, said the group observed a demonstration of 40-mm guns deployed on the island, as well as a newly built harbor and hardware facilities.
He said that after the group had completed its tour of Taiping — the largest island in the Spratly Islands — they were convinced that it is an island and not a rock.
Chiang, who initiated the visit, said that after years of improvement work, Taiping has been transformed into a place that can sustain long-term human habitation. [FULL STORY]