TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Sunday that Taiwan should not be excluded from efforts to resolve disputes in the South China Sea, arguing that doing so would be counterproductive to regional stability.
The Philippines on Wednesday submitted its official West Philippine Sea nautical chart to the United Nations, designating Democracy Reef, also known as Scarborough Shoal, as part of its territory, per Manila Times. The reef, known as Huangyan Dao in China and Bajo de Masinloc in the Philippines, is claimed by Taiwan, China, and the Philippines.
KMT Culture and Communications Committee Chair Chen I-hsin (陳以信) criticized the government on Sunday, noting it had not responded to the Philippines' designation of territorial baselines covering areas claimed by Taiwan, per UP Media. Citing Taiwan's condemnation of China's establishment of a national nature reserve at Democracy Reef in 2025, Chen accused the government of applying double standards in defending Taiwan's territorial claims.
Chen urged the foreign ministry to negotiate with the Philippines over the dispute to safeguard Taiwan's sovereignty in the South China Sea.
DPP Legislator Wu Szu-yao (吳思瑤) criticized the KMT's remarks, saying Taiwan and the Philippines are victims of Chinese aggression, per TTV. She called on the KMT to instead protest Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Responding to questions about the Philippines' submission, MOFA reiterated Taiwan's opposition to any unilateral attempt to change the status quo and rejected sovereignty and maritime claims that excessively expand the rights of any one party, per CNA. It warned that such actions could increase regional tensions.
The ministry called on all parties to resolve disputes through existing international legal frameworks, include Taiwan in negotiations, safeguard freedom of navigation in the region, and set aside disputes to pursue joint development.
China issued a statement Friday condemning the Philippines' submission, calling it a "gross violation" of its sovereignty, per UDN. China accused the Philippines of provoking tensions at sea and undermining stability in the South China Sea.
In addition to its statement, China conducted military exercises near Democracy Reef on Saturday, describing them as a countermeasure to the Philippines' actions, per CNA. Chen Xiangmiao, a research fellow at China’s National Institute for South China Sea Studies, said the drills demonstrated China's effective control over Democracy Reef and that similar exercises would become routine, per UDN.
Chen said the military exercises were both within China's rights and a demonstration of its ability to respond to actions taken by other claimants.
