On July 20th, New England’s largest newspaper, The Boston Globe, published a letter from TECO-Boston’s Director-General Scott Lai detailing the R.O.C.’s position on the UN Permanent Court of Arbitration’s recent ruling on the South China Sea. In the letter, Director-General Lai emphasizes that the R.O.C. Government does not accept the tribunal’s ruling regarding the South China Sea Islands and their relevant waters, as it impinges on the rights and interests of the R.O.C. As such, the resulting decision has no legally binding force on the R.O.C.
The letter states that the R.O.C. is entitled to all rights over the South China Sea Islands and their relevant waters in accordance with international law and the law of the sea. The arbitral tribunal in The Hague did not formally invite the R.O.C. to participate in the proceedings brought by the Philippines, nor did it solicit the R.O.C.’s views.
As Director-General Lai points out the status of Taiping Island, also known as Itu Aba, was not originally included in the scope of the arbitration. However, the tribunal took it upon itself to expand its authority, declaring R.O.C.-governed Taiping Island to be a rock. This decision infringes on the rights of the R.O.C., and severely harms the R.O.C.’s interests regarding the South China Sea Islands and their relevant waters.
Director-General Lai emphasizes that the R.O.C. does not accept any decision that undermine its rights, and declares that they have no legally binding force on the R.O.C. The government will staunchly safeguard the country’s territory and sovereignty, and ensure that the R.O.C.’s national interests are not jeopardized.
The letter also expresses that the R.O.C. urges that disputes in the South China Sea be settled peacefully through multilateral negotiations, and is willing, through negotiations conducted on the basis of equality, to work with all states concerned to advocate peace and stability in the region.
