Minister says R.O.C. troops may be deployed to Spratlys

This article was published by the Taiwan Headlines on March 17, 2006. It reports that the Ministry of National Defense is considering sending marine troops back to Taiping Island in the Spratlys in the South China Sea, in order to fend off a possible Chinese attack.

The Spratly Islands consist of about 100 barren islets, reefs and atolls dotting the world's busiest shipping lanes in the South China Sea. Vietnam, China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei all claim to own all or part of the islands, which are believed to be rich in oil, gas and fish stocks. China and Vietnam have both built permanent structures in the Spratlys, and had violent clashes over the territory in 1988 and 1992.

Hundreds of Taiwanese marines were stationed on the island from since 1952. But they were withdrawn in 1990 due to difficulties in supplying them.

In 2005, Taiwan began building a runway in Taipei Island. The project was believed to be for coastal patrol, fishing and emergency medical needs.