Taipei, Jan. 30 (CNA) Representatives of the Philippines and Vietnam in Taiwan expressed concerns Wednesday over Taiwan's construction of a runway in the disputed Spratly Islands, as well as the reported planned visit there by Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian.
"We were always concerned about the sovereignty issue of the Spratly Islands. And we condemn any action that violates the sovereignty of Vietnam, " said Pham Manh Hai, deputy head of the Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office (VECO) in Taipei.
He was speaking amid local reports of a planned visit by Chen to the Spratlys' Taiping Island, known internationally as Itu Aba island, where the runway was built. The visit will happen as early as this weekend, Taiwanese reports said.
"We didn't want the situation to escalate into something that might generate tensions in the region, " said Antonio Basilio, Representative of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taipei. He added: "We don't want to make it an issue now."
Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei, China, Malaysia and the Philippines all claim sovereignty over all or parts of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. The area around the island chain are believed to be rich in oil resources.
Chen's planned visit, if realized, would be the first-ever inspection of the Spratlys by Chen or any Taiwanese leader in recent memory.
Minister of National Defense Lee Tien-yu said Tuesday that construction of a 1,150-meter long runway on Taiping Island, which Taiwan considers its southernmost inhabited territory, has been completed and the military will make necessary preparation if President Chen wants to visit the island.
Lee refused to confirm or deny the reports about a possible visit by Chen.
While the Philippines respects Taiwan's right to say the islands are part of its territory, Basilio said, he cautioned that a visit "might provoke some reactions from other claimants."
Basilio said his office has not received any request of a clearance of flight for the Manila FIR (flight information region) . Taiwan's United Daily News reported that Taiwan's military was granted approval from the Manila FIR for a flight to Taiping Island.
"Nothing came to our office, " Basilio said, adding that "no such request has been made to us or my counterparts in Manila, your (Taiwan) office in Manila."
Meanwhile, Nguyen Ba Cu, the head of Vietnam's representative office in Taiwan, met with officials of Taiwan's foreign ministry Tuesday and expressed concerns.
The office has also conveyed the information to the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry, which will be responsible for making all official statements, Pham said.
The Vietnamese foreign ministry last Thursday issued a protest over a visit by Taiwan's C-130 transport plane to Taiping Island recently.