TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Foundation Executive Director Hsiao Hsu-tsen warned Tuesday that if President Tsai Ing-wen does not visit Taiping Island, it would break the tradition of visiting the island within two presidential terms and pose challenges to future claims of sovereignty in the South China Sea.
As President Tsai's term nears its end, discussions have arisen about whether she will follow tradition and assert sovereignty over the South China Sea by visiting Taiping Island. Hsiao questioned the president's commitment to defending her nation's territory and sovereignty, suggesting that failing to do so could undermine traditions, affect the morale of the island's garrison, and impact claims to the South China Sea.
Hsiao revealed that the United States has opposed Taiwanese presidents visiting Taiping Island. When former President Ma Ying-jeou planned to visit the island, the U.S. exerted significant pressure to deter him.
Accoring to Hsiao, both Ma and former President Chen Shui-bian didn't comprehend why the U.S. was so concerned about Taiwanese presidents visiting Taiping Island. They believed that the island was Taiwanese territory and that Taiwan had its own claims to assert.
A senior member of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) claimed that Ma's visit to the island in 2016 was to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. However, Hsiao clarified that the meeting between Ma and Xi had already taken place before Ma's visit to the island.