Press Release
January 28, 2016
Data Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan)
Taiping Island is an island, not a rock, and the ROC possesses full rights associated with an exclusive economic zone
and continental shelf in accordance with UNCLOS
In recent years, parties concerned have continued to be at odds over sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea. In
January 2013, the Philippines initiated arbitration against mainland China concerning the South China Sea in accordance
with Annex VII of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). During the second hearing from November
24 to 30, 2015, the Philippines distorted the facts and misinterpreted the law to argue that Taiping Island is a rock
and not an island, and that it therefore should not have any maritime entitlements beyond 12 nautical miles. The
Executive Yuan and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China have issued statements on numerous occasions
reiterating that, whether from the perspective of history, geography, or international law, Taiping Island, with an area
of 0.51 square kilometer, is the largest naturally formed island in the Nansha (Spratly) Islands, can sustain human
habitation and economic life of its own, and meets the criteria of an island as defined in Article 121 of UNCLOS.
Therefore, with regard to Taiping Island, the ROC enjoys full rights associated with territorial waters, a contiguous
zone, an exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and a continental shelf in accordance with UNCLOS.
On December 12, 2015, ROC Minister of the Interior Chen Wei-zen led a group of related government officials on a trip to
Taiping Island to preside over a ceremony marking the opening of a wharf and lighthouse. During this visit, Minister
Chen and the other members of the group drank water taken from a well on the island, proving that water quality there is
very high. Moreover, the lunch they had that day consisted of local natural ingredients, products from livestock raised
on the island, as well as vegetables and fruits grown by personnel stationed there. This clearly showed that the
conditions on Taiping Island are such that it can sustain human habitation and economic life of its own.
ROC and foreign experts visit Taiping Island to conduct surveys, the results of which underline the fact it is an island
To provide further scientific evidence that Taiping Island qualifies as an island, the ROC Council of Agriculture
invited a team consisting of water, soil, vegetation, and legal experts to survey Taiping Island from January 22 to 23,
2016, and conduct an updated examination of its natural and agricultural environment. In addition, a group of senior ROC
government officials including Minister of Foreign Affairs David Y. L. Lin, Minister of the Mainland Affairs Council
Andrew L. Y. Hsia, and Minister of the Environmental Protection Administration Wei Kuo-yen visited Taiping Island on
January 23, 2016, to inspect wells, natural vegetation, agriculture, the Guanyin Temple, as well as the remains of past
structures, and tour the island's solar power facilities, lighthouse, wharf, communications equipment, and Nansha
Hospital. They were accompanied by ROC scholars including Prof. Chun-I Chen, Dr. Yann-Huei Song, Prof. Kuan-Hsiung Wang,
Prof. Cheng-Yi Lin, and Dr. Lih-Torng Chen, as well as foreign experts including Mr. Jose Zaide, columnist for the
Manila Bulletin, and Greg Poling, Director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative of the US-based Center for
Strategic and International Studies.
Water on Taiping Island is potable and of higher quality than groundwater on Penghu Island The aforementioned survey
team observed that, with regard to water resources, there are four operational groundwater wells on Taiping Island. The
results showed that the temperature of the water in one of the wells was approximately 28 degrees Celsius, with
electrical conductivity of 838 mho/cm, and total dissolved solids of 418 mg/L. It can be concluded from these
measurements that the water on Taiping Island is freshwater that can be used as drinking water, and is of higher quality
than the groundwater found on Penghu Island.
Soil on Taiping Island is naturally formed and supports indigenous vegetation as well as agricultural crops Meanwhile,
samples were taken from five different areas-i.e., the sod area, coconut tree area, vegetable cultivation area, coastal
forest area, and shrub area-in order to gain a better understanding of the basic properties and structural
characteristics of the soil on Taiping Island. Field results revealed that soil on the island is naturally formed and
supports indigenous vegetation as well as agricultural crops. The island's soil composition and soil-profile
characteristics show two main types of soil. The first type is found mainly on the outer periphery of the island. Its
topsoil is grayish black, with many dry twigs and fallen leaves, and no guano layer underneath. The first 20 centimeters
of topsoil consists primarily of coarse sand with a mixture of dry twigs and leaves, has definite soil structure with an
abundance of plant roots, and is calcareous. At a depth of 20 to 60 centimeters it consists of eroded coral materials.
The second type is found chiefly in inland areas of the island: black topsoil with many dry twigs and fallen leaves. At
a depth of 20 centimeters there is a guano layer. The topsoil down to 40 centimeters consists primarily of sand with
many dry twigs and leaves, and a large amount of brown lumps of guano. It is calcareous with well-formed soil structure,
a greater amount of organic matter, and an abundance of plant roots. Both types of naturally formed soil on the island
support indigenous vegetation and agricultural crops.
Taiping Island possesses abundant natural resources, including 106 land-based plant species As for vegetation and land
use, onsite surveys were conducted to record the plant resources and different types of vegetation on Taiping Island, as
well as the types and distribution of related products that can be used by island inhabitants for daily life needs or
cultivation. The surveys revealed an abundance of indigenous natural vegetation. The primeval coastal forest area is
fairly dense, with giant sword fern (Nephrolepsisbiserrata) growing in it, indicating a stable forest environment that
can effectively hold water, preserve evaporation, and replenish soil humus. Wild coconut, papaya, and plantain are found
all over the island and can be harvested throughout the year, enabling Taiping Island to sustain human habitation and
economic life of its own. According to the scientific literature and the results of the onsite surveys, vegetation on
the island is comprised mainly of tropical coastal drifting flora, with a total of 106 land-based plant species from 46
families, including 20 species of trees,16 species of shrubs, 17 species of lianas, and 53 species of herbaceous plants.
There are 147 trees on the island taller than chest height with girths greater than 100 centimeters, belonging to four
common tropical species: the Indian almond (Terminalia catappa), fish poison tree (Barringtonia asiatica), lantern tree
(Hernandia nymphaeifolia),and Alexandrian laurel (Calophyllum inophyllum). Most of these trees are 100-150 years old.
The largest is a lantern tree four to five stories high, with a girth of 907 centimeters (equaling the arm spans of
several people). Other wild crops include coconut, papaya, and plantain. There are approximately 500 coconut trees on
the island, producing about 1,500 wonderfully flavored coconuts each year. There are also approximately 50 papaya trees
and 50 plantain trees that grow in shrub areas, producing 200-300 kilograms of high-quality papayas and plantains each
year. Personnel stationed on the island have long utilized all types of resources on the island and cultivated various
tropical vegetables and fruits, including staple foods such as corn and sweet potato as well as 10 other types such as
okra, pumpkin, loofah gourd, bitter melon, and cabbage. These crops grow well on the island. In addition, six dogs, 12
goats, and 180 chickens live on the island. The dogs act as guards during the night while the goats and chickens provide
sources of food that meet the needs of people on the island.
Guanyin Temple meets the spiritual needs of personnel stationed on Taiping Island, and tombstones show traces of past
human activity With regard to culture and history, members of the survey team visited the Guanyin Temple, built in 1959
to meet the spiritual needs of personnel stationed on Taiping Island. The original temple was built in the form of a big
shrine using readily available materials, with its pillars made from cans strung together. It has since been renovated
several times. Near the Guanyin Temple is a tombstone dating back to the Qing dynasty, as well as a stone marker erected
during the time when Japan had incorporated Taiping Island and the Shinnan Gunto (part of the Nansha Islands) in Takao
City of Takao Prefecture(today's Kaohsiung City and Pingtung County), under the jurisdiction of the Japanese
governor-general of Taiwan. Also in the vicinity is a memorial stele marking the recovery of the island by the ROCS
Taiping on December 12, 1946. All of this demonstrates that humans have long been active on Taiping Island, offering
powerful evidence that Taiping Island has sustained human habitation.
Eminent scholars participating in the trip to Taiping Island reaffirm that Taiping Island qualifies as an island ROC
scholars on the team stated that, during their visit to Taiping Island, they witnessed the achievements of the ROC
government's peaceful operations in the South China Sea. They also confirmed that Taiping Island, being able to sustain
human habitation and economic life of its own, meets the criteria of an island as defined in Article 121 of UNCLOS.
According to the scientific data mentioned above, wells on the island provide high-quality freshwater that can meet the
needs of personnel stationed there. The soil is also of good quality, supporting natural plants and agricultural crops
and producing enough grass to feed the goats on the island. The Guanyin Temple fulfills the spiritual needs of personnel
while the remains of past structures show traces of human activity through the years. Based on all of this evidence, the
ROC scholars unanimously agree that Taiping Island is an island that can sustain human habitation and economic life of
its own, and is therefore not a rock as claimed by the Philippines.
ROC scholars have also noted that the Philippine interpretation of Paragraph 3 of Article 121 of UNCLOS is not widely
accepted in the international legal community and is not supported by any international legal precedent. The Philippine
line of argumentation is therefore not credible. In fact, if the Philippines' interpretation were to be accepted,
serious issues could arise, as several nations would no longer be able to claim EEZs of certain islands. These include
the United States (Baker Island-uninhabited and without freshwater; Kingman Reef-land area above water during high tide
only 0.012 square kilometer) and Japan (Okinotorishima- extremely small, with an area of roughly 8 square meters,
uninhabited, and no fresh water or crops). Furthermore, numerous island nations that have little freshwater and rely on
rainwater harvesting would not be able to claim EEZs. The arbitral tribunal should therefore address this issue with
great caution, conduct a comprehensive study, and refrain from accepting the Philippines' unilateral position, so that
the interests of other members of the international community are not jeopardized and unnecessary disputes and conflicts
do not emerge.
ROC government briefs scholars on peaceful efforts to safeguard its legal interests At the invitation of the ROC
government, guests drank Taiping Island freshwater, enjoyed a meal prepared from locally produced ingredients, and
visited the island's facilities and cultural sites. The government elaborated on its efforts to protect its legal
interests, as well as its operations in the South China Sea, through peaceful means. The ROC government urges the
international community to support the South China Sea Peace Initiative it put forward on May 26, 2015, take note of the
ROC presence and interests in the South China Sea, and include the ROC in related multilateral negotiation mechanisms in
an appropriate manner, so as to safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.
Following the inspection visit to Taiping Island by the aforementioned group of experts and scholars, the ROC government
once again reiterates that Taiping Island is the largest naturally formed island in the Nansha Islands, can sustain
human habitation and economic life of its own, and meets the criteria of an island as defined in Article 121 of UNCLOS.
The ROC government staunchly defends Taiping Island's status as an island. Attempts to undermine this status, as well as
corresponding maritime entitlements accorded by UNCLOS, will not succeed. Any party that wishes to alleviate tension in
the South China Sea should refer to the South China Sea Peace Initiative put forward by the ROC government and seek to
resolve disputes through peaceful negotiations in accordance with the principle that, even though sovereignty cannot be
divided, resources can be shared, so as to jointly transform the South China Sea into a sea of peace and cooperation.
(End of press release)
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