Taiwan hits China fishing law while dismissing PH claim

Taiwan, which calls itself the Republic of China (ROC), rejected China’s new fisheries law but also dismissed Manila’s claim over the Spratly Islands in the disputed South China Sea. The Philippines earlier slammed China’s new policy, which requires foreigners to seek China’s permission to fish in the disputed sea. In a statement, Taiwan stood firm in claiming the Spratly Islands (Nansha Islands), Paracel Islands (Shisha Islands), Macclesfield Islands (Chungsha Islands), and Pratas Islands (Tungsha Islands). Taiwan also urged countries “bordering the islands,” such as the Philippines, “to respect the principles and spirit” of the United Nations Charter and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). In place of unilateral measures, Taiwan broached the idea of joint exploration.

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