Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/07/13
By: H.H. Liu and Flor Wang

Taipei, July 13 (CNA) President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) vowed on Wednesday to protect Taiwan’s interests in the South China Sea a day after an international tribunal delivered a ruling seen as having an adverse impact on Taiwan’s claims in the region.

“Just yesterday, new changes took place in the South China Sea, and now is the time for us to demonstrate our resolve to safeguard the country’s interests,” Tsai said aboard the Di Hua frigate (迪化艦) at Zuoying naval base in Kaohsiung before it set off on a routine patrol mission in waters near the Spratly Islands.

Tsai was referring to the ruling handed down by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague on a case brought by the Philippines against China that focused in part on whether islands claimed by China were entitled to 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zones.     [FULL  STORY]