A Taiwanese minister has made a rare visit to Itu Aba, the largest naturally occurring island in the disputed Spratly Islands of the South China Sea. Ocean affairs council minister Kuan Bi-ling travelled to the island, also known as Taiping Island, to observe coast guard exercises described as humanitarian relief, medical evacuation, and marine pollution removal operations.
The visit, the first by a Taiwanese minister in seven years, comes amid heightened tensions in the region. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, while Taiwan asserts its independence. The exercises included a mock interception of a cargo ship that ignored repeated calls, with armed personnel boarding the vessel to take control. The coast guard stated the scenario reflected real risks in busy and disputed waters.
Kuan's visit coincided with large US-Philippines military drills, which have drawn Chinese objections. In response, China deployed a new amphibious warship to the South China Sea and moved an aircraft carrier through the nearby Taiwan Strait. Taiping Island, located about 1,600km southwest of Kaohsiung, houses around 200 people, mostly coast guard members, and has a runway and upgraded wharf.
The island was classified as a “rock” under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea by a 2016 tribunal, limiting Taiwan's maritime rights to 12 nautical miles. Taiwan and China both reject the ruling, with Taiwan arguing the island can sustain human life due to resources like fresh water. China has continued to expand its presence in the South China Sea, building artificial islands and military infrastructure, raising regional and US concerns.
