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| Itu Aba Island (Taiwan: Taiping Island (Chinese: 太平島; pinyin: Tàipíng Dǎo; Vietnamese: Đảo Ba Bình; Filipino: Ligaw/Ligao), is the largest of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea and the only island with a freshwater supply. The island is elliptical in shape being 1.4 km in length and 0.4 km in width. It is part of the Tizard Bank (Zheng He Reefs), one of seven reefs in the Spratly Islands near the centre of the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea) |
Taiwan's defense minister has backed a plan to deploy advanced missiles in the island Itu Aba (Taiwan: Taiping, Filipino: Ligao-Ligao, Vietnamese: Đảo Ba Bình) in Spratlys over concerns that rival claimants to disputed islands are building up their arms, a legislator said Thursday.
Kao Hua-chu endorsed a proposal passed by the country's defense committee Wednesday (October 12, 2011) demanding coastguard units in Itu Aba (Taiping) and the Pratas islands -- claimed by China - be armed with Chaparral or Tien Chien I missiles.
"Minister Kao made it clear that he supports the proposal," he was quoted as saying in a statement released by Lin Yu-fang, the legislator from the ruling Kuomintang who pushed for the deployment.
Philippines defense department spokesman Zosimo Jesus Paredes said the country enjoyed good relations with Taiwan and believed its plan to supply missiles to coastguard units in the areas it claims was not a threat to the Philippines.
"We cannot dictate on Taiwan on what or what not to do," However, he said Manila was prepared to "defend to the hilt" islets it has already occupied in the Spraltys.
But when asked whether Manila considered a move towards aggression, he said: "Not really… we should not be over reactive."
However, the lobbying of power the Sultan of the Sultanate State of Sulu and North Borneo; Sultan Kiram is worry of this as he believed that the whole Spratlys is belong to his territory and under his sovereignty and belong to his people majority the Muslim people in Southern Philippines and Sultanate State of Sulu and North Borneo (Sabah).
Sultan Kiram revived his claim and challenged the Philippines government Saturday (October 15, 2011) to support them to take-over the North Borneo (Sabah) from Malaysia which is links to the islands of Palawan and the Spratlys Archipelago.
Sultan Kiram reminded the Philippines that the North Borneo (Sabah) is belong to the Sultanate State of Sulu and Borneo that links Palawan islands and Spratlys Archipelago which rightful owner is the Filipino people after turning-over his rights to the Philippines government in 1967.
He reminded also the majority Christian Filipinos that the North Borneo which is called now as Sabah by Malaysia was illegally captured by Britain and give it to Malaysia without his approval.
Taking-over back North Borneo (Sabah) will give more chance to the Philippines and the Sultanate State of Sulu to control the islands in the Spratlys – Kalayaan Island Group and the southern part of Palawan islands which is also claimed by Kuala Lumpur.
The deployment of advance missile by Taiwan triggered concern to the Sultan of the Sultanate state of Sulu as it is considered as belligerent action of Taiwan might triggers conflict and unwanted war in his territory in the spratlys.
Apparently mindful of rising regional tensions, Kao said the Taiwanese coastguards may need advanced weaponry rather than the Chaparral which Taiwan first acquired in the 1980s.
"Perhaps Tien Chien I or more advanced air defense missile systems should be given priority since the Chaparral is pretty old," Kao said.
The plan came following a report in July which found that Taiwan's coastguards in the contested waters were vulnerable amid mounting tensions.
Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei, China, Malaysia, and the Philippines claim all or part of the Spratlys, which could lie on top of large oil reserves.
The Taiwanese coastguard currently has a 130-strong garrison on Itu Iba island (Taiping), the biggest island in the Spratlys archipelago.
Lin said the proposed ground-to-air missile deployment would be legitimate, citing the ministry's recent report on the military buildups by Vietnam and other neighboring countries in the area.
Vietnam has deployed thousands of marines in the zone, backed Russia-made Su-27SK and Su-30MK2 fighter jets; Lin cited the report as saying.
"In stark contrast, the Taiwanese coastguards are only equipped with 20-mm air defense guns," he said in a statement.
The defense ministry added that in case of military conflicts, Taiwanese coastguards could hardly defend themselves against the Philippine forces equipped with naval gunboats, Lin added
The Philippines said Sunday it was prepared to defend its claims in the South China Sea, but downplayed a plan by Taiwan to deploy missiles in the area
Paredes stressed the government still believed in pursuing a peaceful solution, but stressed Taiwan's move might be misunderstood by some claimants as provocative.
He said Taiwan's move could be seen as "unsettling" by other claimants to the area, stressing that it should have officially informed them of its plan so as not to escalate tensions.
"I think moves like these should be coordinated (with other claimants) so that we will not be taken aback," he said.
On the other hand, the neighboring countries surrounding Taiwan and Hainan China is on the hand to support the Philippines of its Spratlys claim. Australia and Japan pronounced their support to the Philippines which later the New Zealand followed.
USA as the most powerful ally of the Philippines turnover its Hamilton Class cutter warship to the Philippines to boost its naval patrol in the Spartlys and recently but not yet confirmed by our team, the South Korea will offer also a navy patrol boat to the Philippines to be use in patrolling in the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea).
To follow more consolidate and contributed issues about the Spratlys join the Hikot's Spratlys Page.
