Lawmakers say outlying islands are at risk

This article was published by the Taiwan Headlines on March 31, 2006. It reports that there were concerns in Taiwan over the protection of the nation's outlying islands. The Ministry of Defense withdrew marines from the Pratas and Spratly islands in 1999, but now the government questioned whether there were enough troops stationed on the islands to hold off an enemy invasion.

At present, the Pratas and Spratly islands are protected by Taiwan's national coastguard administration. The Ministry of Defense has plans to redeploy marines on the islands, but has not yet set a timetable.

It takes two days for Taiwanese ships to reacht eh Pratas Spratly islands, which are located in the South China Sea. According to the Ministry of Defense, there are not enough coastguard personnel to protect the islands.

Other countries have stationed troops on surrounding islands because of their strategic importance.