Report: Taiwan readies military reinforcements in Spratlys

Amid increased movements by other claimants in the area, Taiwan is preparing to reinforce its military presence in the disputed Spratly Islands. Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA) reported Taiwan's military is ready to deploy mortars and anti-aircraft guns on Taiping Island in the Spratlys. Quoting ranking military sources, the CNA report said the logistical preparation to ship 120-mm mortars and 40-mm guns has been completed. It added the sources claimed the weapons will be moved to the island in the "near future." Taiwan claims to control Taiping Island in the Spratlys. Other claimants to the Spratlys include Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines, China, and Vietnam. CNA said the planned military reinforcement of Taiping stemmed from a proposal by Kuomintang legislator Lin Yu-fang, who inspected defense operations there last April. Lin, a member of the legislature's Foreign and National Defense Committee, advised the Defense Ministry to deploy the 120-mm mortars and 40-mm guns. In May, the Legislative Yuan passed a resolution to ask the ministry to deploy the weapons on Taiping Island. — LBG, GMA News