ARCHIPELAGO – SPRATTY ISLANDS

Since time immemorial, neighboring countries have always had border disputes, more so in the case of south east Asian countries. Taiwan’s coastguard has confirmed that it may improve its strength in a disputed archipelago in South China Sea, on account of notable increase in the number of foreign fishing boats in the region. Taiwan’s coastguard has a surveillance base on Taiping, which happens to be biggest island in the Spratty region, has noted a visible increase in the number of foreign fishing vessels in the area. According to a spokesman of Taiwan’s coastguard, Shih Yi-che, the service was likely to deploy more patrolling boats to the archipelago, which is spread over 1,500 km south of Taiwan.

Taiwan’s coastguard currently has in operation, three patrols from Taiping, called Ba Binh in Vietnam, where it has also constructed a runway for the supply of logistical support and also humanitarian assistance if needed. Towards the end of May his year, Taiwan’s coastguard has reportedly counted in excess of 500 foreign vessels, maximum from China, along Taiping, which is more than twice the number, reported during entire last year. In the meantime, the foreign ministry of Taiwan has asserted their claim to the Spratty islands, along with three other archipelagos in the South China Sea, which has many important shipping lanes.

According to them, the Spratty islands are the territory of the Republic of China, whether it is historical, geographical, or international aw. Along with Taiwan, many other neighboring nations also lay claim on all or part of he oil-rich Spratty islands. All with the exception of Brunei, have their troops in the area.

Disaster Strikes The Archipelago

Natural disasters strike humanity and other living creatures on the planet with regular alacrity. Every major disaster leaves behind a trail of heavy loss of human lives, flora and fauna, and also causes irreparable damage to infrastructure and properties. Every developed country’s administration is well trained to cope with any natural disaster but when something happens without any warning and wreaks havoc, it becomes a herculean task to mitigate the damage done to human lives and their belongings.

An earth quake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale struck Mindanao on June 14, 2009, as per the report of United States Geological Survey (USGS) but, according to the local officials, there was no report of any damage or loss of human lives and they did not foresee any. Mindanao, is the southern tip of the Philippines, and is the second largest island group in the archipelago and an environmentalist’s heaven on earth. The epicenter of the quake happened to be 150 km east-southeast of General Santos city and measured a depth of 75.6 km, according to USGS. The quake started from under the sea and in all probability would not cause any harm, according to a statement released by Renato U. Solidum, Junior Director at the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. The seriousness of the quake recorded was 2 in Davao and General Santos.

Years ago, in a shattering earth quake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale that occurred in July 1990, in Northern Luzon, approximately 1,600 lives were lost and properties worth billions of pesos as also other infrastructural assets were devastated. This was the biggest earth quake in the recent past.

China struggling towards the Archipelagos due to Vietnam statement

China is trying to pick two famous historical places named Paracels and Spratlys Archipelagos which are the famous set of islands located in the sovereign of Vietnam. The key battle is between the china and the Vietnam. Both countries are claiming that the archipelagos to be themselves. The Vietnam made a official complaint to the united nations claiming it and the United nations asked both the communist countries to submit a detailed report governing the archipelago. The main conflict arises in this archipelago from the olden days itself. In the earlier decades the fight is between the north and the South Vietnam and they signed a mutual deal through various Vietnam treaties and they completely closed the file. There were no problems after their treaties. After nearly twenty five years china is trying in the acquisition of the archipelago. Chinese claim that the islands are in their control in olden days as they say that their emperors have the control of these islands in olden days and the Vietnam claims that the islands belong to themselves as their kings used this archipelago to interchange various mutual agreements in the olden days and the place is used for peace talks and it also has various Vietnam cultures. The report submitted by the Vietnam looks to more strong compared to that of the china. But all the rights are in the hands of United Nations to take the issue and give a good judgement. The basic fight is that in the olden days the fight is between the emperors and now it is between two communist nations. However Vietnam is giving a tight task to the Chinese in this archipelago issue.