Taiwan minister says she visited second islet in disputed South China Sea

The Taiwanese minister in charge of the Coast Guard visited a second Taiwan-controlled islet deep in the South China Sea, she said on Wednesday, adding that complaints by Vietnam about her trip would not cause any regional tensions.



Taiwan and China claim sovereignty over most of the South China Sea and Taiwan has control of Itu Aba in the contested Spratly Islands in the southern part of the sea.



Writing on her Facebook page, Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling, whose department runs the Coast Guard, said that in addition to visiting Itu Aba she had also gone to the nearby and uninhabited Zhongzhou Reef to carry out a beach cleanup.



"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," she added, using the name both Taiwan and China call the Spratlys.



Kuan posted two pictures of herself and her team on Zhongzhou; one staffer carried a large Taiwan flag.



Speaking to reporters in parliament later on Wednesday about her South China Sea visit, Kuan said that "in the defence of sovereignty of course there is absolutely no backing down."



Kuan was in the Spratly Islands to carry out what the Coast Guard said were environmental and humanitarian drills.