Taiwan opposes Philippine plan to rename South China Sea - report

Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs opposes the Philippine plan to rename South China Sea as West Philippine Sea, Taipei's Central News Agency said.

Reacting to an administrative order recently signed by President Benigno Aquino III, the Taiwan ministry issued a statement late Wednesday reaffirming its previous statement that from the perspective of history, geography, or international law, the Spratly Islands, the Paracel Islands, the Macclesfield Bank, and the Pratas Islands as well as their surrounding waters, sea beds, and subsoil, are all inherent parts of the territory of the Republic of China.

The Taiwan claim over these waters is as encompassing as China’s.

The Taiwan ministry reiterated that it upholds the basic principles of "safeguarding sovereignty, shelving disputes, peace and reciprocity, and joint exploration" but remains willing to work with other countries in exploring the resources of the disputed seas.

Aside from the Philippines, China, and Taiwan, the other countries with partial claims are Brunei, Malaysia, Japan, and Vietnam.-Interaksyon (September 13, 2012)