September 18, 2007:
Taiwan is building a 1,150 meter long, and 30 meter wide air strip on Itu Aba,
one of the Spratly Islands. The Spratlys are a group of some 100 islets,
atolls, and reefs that total only about 5 square kilometers of land, but sprawl
across some 410,000 square kilometers of the South China Sea. Set amid some of
the world's most productive fishing grounds, the islands are believed to have
enormous oil and gas reserves. Several nations have overlapping claims on the
group. About 45 of the islands are currently occupied by small numbers of
military personnel from China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
Brunei has established a
fishing zone in the area, but has made no territorial claims. From time to time
there have been small-scale confrontations and the occasional clash between
some of these countries over the ownership of the islands. In November of 2002
most of these countries signed the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties
in the South China Sea," a vague agreement that has eased tensions is not
actually legally binding. In March of 2005, the national oil companies of
China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to cooperate in
exploring for oil in the islands.
Called Taiping Island by
the Taiwanese, Ita Aba is one of the largest of the group, at about 120 acres
(489,600 square meters). It has been in Taiwanese hands since the mid-1950s,
and has largely been used as a way station for fishermen. The island is also
claimed by the Vietnamese, who call it Thai Binh. Taiwan has long maintained a
small military presence on the island, and the new air strip is meant to cement
that control. Protests were made by Vietnam, which controls the largest group
of islands, and the Philippines, which also claims Itu Aba island. The
Vietnamese earlier refurbished an old South Vietnamese airstrip on Big Spratly
Island.
Taiwans construction of
the air strip, which is expected to be operational by the end of the year,
could provoke China into action. Then again, with the U.S. Navy constantly in
the area, probably not.
