Taiwan President Chen Shui-Bian’s visit to Spratly Islands last Feb.2, 2008 has met opposition from the Philippine government. The Taiwanese leader visited Spratly aboard military air craft C-130 and landed on Ligao Island or Taiping which is approximately a few miles away from the Philippines province of Palawan.
Chen’s latest move is nothing new hence; the Chinese are regular visitors to Spratly and China even have a permanent military base in one of the islands. From time to time Chinese fishermen encroached inside the Philippines territorial waters and fishing indiscriminately in Tubbataha reef, a marine park recognized by the United Nations because of its awesome beauty.
President Chen Shui-Bian showing of force in the Spratly Islands was meant to assert its claim but it won’t be easy for Taiwan because his dragon neighbor is always ready to maim whoever claimed ownership of Spratly Islands. And the poor Philippines would just sit idly in the corner even if its territory is being claimed by ever powerful China. Spratly Islands are located just close to the Philippines’ south while China is thousands of kilometers away from Spratly Islands.