President Tsai unlikely to visit Taiping Island: official

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Su Chi, former secretary-general of Taiwan's National Security Council (NSC), on Tuesday (Feb. 6) downplayed the chance President Tsai Ing-wen will visit the South China Sea's Taiping Island due to concerns over U.S. objections and the risk to her physical safety.

The possibility of Tsai journeying to the island to assert Taiwan's sovereignty has come into focus as a major port extension project nears completion there.

Predicting a 90 percent chance Tsai won't undertake the island visit, Su explained reasons including the U.S. opposition to Taiwan stirring up South China Sea issues, and safety concerns present a significant factor against the visit.

"Can she manage a four-hour flight, traveling 1,600 kilometers there and back (safely)?" he questioned.

Highlighting the large number of Chinese fighter jets, Su said the president would likely have to deal with possible aerial escorts and security threats if she decided to visit the island. He said that alone should give Tsai enough reason to reconsider her plans.

Furthermore, he mentioned that the U.S. prefers Taiwan to stay out of the ongoing tension between the Philippines and China, adding that the U.S. would not back a Taiping Island trip by Tsai as it could emphasize Taiwan's political stance.