A high-ranking Taiwanese official has confirmed she traveled to two disputed islands in the South China Sea this week, marking the first ministerial visit to the contested territory in seven years.
Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling announced Wednesday on social media that she had visited both Itu Aba and the uninhabited Zhongzhou Reef during what her department described as environmental and humanitarian training exercises.
During her stop at Zhongzhou Reef, Kuan participated in beach cleanup efforts and observed the daily operations of Coast Guard personnel stationed there. She shared photos of herself and her team, including one staff member holding a large Taiwanese flag.
“There, I personally witnessed marine debris that had drifted in from surrounding countries and gained a deeper appreciation for the day-to-day life of our Coast Guard personnel stationed in the Nansha islands,” Kuan wrote, referring to the area by its Chinese name.
When questioned by lawmakers Wednesday about her South China Sea expedition, Kuan emphasized Taiwan’s unwavering position on territorial claims. “In the defence of sovereignty of course there is absolutely no backing down,” she stated.
Both Taiwan and China assert control over large portions of the South China Sea, with Taiwan maintaining authority over Itu Aba in the disputed Spratly Islands chain. The islands visited by Kuan are also claimed by both China and Vietnam.
Kuan acknowledged that Vietnamese officials had filed objections regarding her trip, but characterized their response as routine. “Our exercise has not caused, nor will it cause, any regional tension,” she posted on Facebook, noting that Vietnam’s protest “has not been notably more forceful than usual.”
Itu Aba features infrastructure including an airstrip capable of handling military supply flights from Taiwan and a newly constructed pier that opened in 2023, designed to accommodate patrol vessels weighing up to 4,000 tons. Despite these facilities, the island maintains lighter defenses compared to nearby Chinese-controlled territories, and Chinese forces typically do not interfere with Taiwan’s presence on Itu Aba and Zhongzhou.
Vietnamese foreign ministry officials have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the territorial dispute.
