Taiwan is building a US$100 million port on Taiping Island, a disputed island in the South China Sea. That’s the word in a Reuters report out on Monday. The report said, though, that the move is drawing little flak from China, which also claims the island.
Taiping is the biggest of the Spratly Islands, which are also claimed by several different countries. It is currently under the administration of Taiwan.
The transportation ministry says that once the new port is completed, it will help assert Taiwan's claims to the disputed Spratly Islands. The wharf will be big enough to accommodate ships as large as 3,000 tons, and is slated for completion by the end of 2015.
Meanwhile, airport facilities on the island will also be renovated to increase the efficiency of humanitarian relief missions. That project is expected to cost about NT$3.3 billion (US$100 million).
Officials say the new port is not only a demonstration of sovereignty but also a way to support a trade dependent economy. It will also be beneficial for Taiwan’s deep-sea fishermen and will contribute to marine and mineral research in the area.