Taipei, Jan. 1 (CNA) Vice President Annette Lu flew to the Pratas Islands (Tungsha Islands) Wednesday, during which she aired her vision of building Taiwan into a maritime power.
Lu, who was accompanied by Vice Minister of National Defense Chen Chao-min and Deputy Director-General of the Coast Guard Administration Yu Chien-hsi and warmly welcomed by the ROC troops stationed there, claimed the Republic of China's sovereignty over the Taiwan-held islands and called for building the islands into a springboard as the first step in its bid to become a maritime power.
Stressing that Taiwan must fully take advantage of its strategic position as an island in achieving breakthroughs in national developments, the vice president said the government should craft a sound maritime policy with new thinking for Taiwan's sustainable progress and survival.
According to Lu, Taiwan's maritime strategies should focus on cooperation with Asia-Pacific countries based on democracy and peace to conserve and adequately share the valuable natural resources and eco-systems in the South China Sea. To accomplish this goal, the Pratas Islands can serve as an ideal base and a diversified development on the islands can serve the purpose, she advocated.
The Pratas Islands, located some 240 nautical miles southwest of Kaohsiung, were included by the city under its jurisdiction in 1993.