Taiwan affirms South China Sea sovereignty after Manila move

The Republic of China (ROC) government yesterday reiterated its sovereignty claim over islands in the South China Sea after the Philippines deposited its official nautical chart with the UN related to an atoll claimed by Manila, Taipei and Beijing.In addition to reaffirming the ROC’s claim over the South China Sea, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said any disputes in the South China Sea “should be resolved peacefully in accordance with international law and the law of the sea.”It also insisted that “Taiwan should be included in multilateral dispute settlement mechanisms.” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ emblem is pictured in an undated photograph. Photo: Taipei Times MOFA’s statement was released after Manila deposited its official nautical chart of Scarborough Shoal with the UN la