Taiwan rebuffs Philippines complaint about South China Sea live fire drills

29/6/2022 19:12

        Taiwan on Wednesday rebuffed a complaint from the Philippines about live fire drills around a Taiwan-controlled island deep in the South China Sea, saying it had the right to do so and always gives issues a warning of its exercises.
        
        The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, in a message on Twitter late on Tuesday, lodged a "strong objection over the unlawful live fire drills" to be carried out by Taiwan this week around the island, known internationally as Itu Aba.
        
        Taiwan calls the island Taiping and the Philippines calls it Ligaw Island.
        
        The department said the island belonged to the Philippines.
        
        Taiwan's foreign ministry said in a statement the island was part of the territory of the Republic of China - Taiwan's formal name - and that it enjoyed all relevant rights accorded by international law.