Taiwan president to be outgoing, Ma Ying-jeou will visit an island that is still in dispute in the South China Sea, Thursday, January 28th.
Taiwan claiming ownership of the island they call the Taiping which is also known as the Spratly Islands was immortal that some territory claimed as belonging to China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei.
Ma Ying-jeou -which has a good relationship with the Chinese- still four months away served as interim president of the newly elected president Tsai Ing-wen will not send representatives during the visit.
"Taiping Island is an inherent part of the territory of the Republic of China (the official name for Taiwan)," said a spokesman for President Ma, Charles Chen.
Image copyrightReuters
Image caption
A number of areas in the Spratly Islands dispute between several countries.
The purpose of the visit is to meet with Taiwanese officials stationed there ahead of the Chinese New Year, which falls on January 8.
Taiwan's increasing presence in Taiping / It Aba, among others, by building a lighthouse and improve its port in addition to having an airstrip and a hospital.
The Chinese government responded to the visit by saying China has "indisputable authority 'over islands in the South China Sea.