Taiwan Today
Date: July 13, 2016
The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration’s award on the Philippines-
Minister of the Interior Yeh Jiunn-rong reaffirms ROC sovereignty over islands in the South China Sea in a report to the Legislative Yuan July 13 in Taipei City. (CNA)
initiated South China Sea Arbitration, including apparently incorrect statements regarding Taiping Island in the Nansha (Spratly) Islands, has severely jeopardized the legal status and relevant maritime rights of the South China Sea islands, over which the Republic of China (Taiwan) exercises sovereignty, and is unacceptable to the ROC government, Minister of the Interior Yeh Jiunn-rong said July 12.
The Office of the President, as well as other ROC government agencies including the Ministry of the Interior and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has strongly rejected the outcome of the arbitration.
“The arbitral tribunal did not formally invite the ROC to participate in its proceedings, nor did it solicit the ROC’s views,” Yeh said during a news conference at MOI headquarters in Taipei City. “Therefore, we assert that the decision has no legally binding force on the ROC.” [FULL STORY]