Taiwan president-elect calls for freedom of navigation in S. China Sea, closer ties with Japan BY AT EDITOR on JANUARY 16, 2016 in ASIA TIMES NEWS & FEATURES, CHINA, JAPAN

Taiwan president-elect calls for freedom of navigation in S. China Sea, closer ties with Japan 

BY AT EDITOR on JANUARY 16, 2016 in ASIA TIMES NEWS & FEATURES, CHINA, JAPAN

(From Reuters)

Taiwan president-elect Tsai Ing-wen on Saturday called for freedom of navigation in the disputed South China Sea and for a peaceful resolution of the dispute.

Chinese dredging work on Mischief Reef

She also said Taiwan will continue to strengthen the island’s ties with Japan.

China claims almost all the disputed South China Sea, where it has built artificial islands that extend its reach. Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan and the Philippines have competing claims in the sea, through which $5 trillion of trade passes annually. Read more

Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen casts her vote in New Taipei City