POLICY OF THE REPUBLIC-OF-CHINA TOWARDS THE SOUTH CHINA SEA - RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

The government of the Republic of China (ROC, Taiwan) has recently ado pted a policy on the South China Sea, the main purpose of which is to consolidate the ROC's territorial claims in the area. While welcoming the adoption of the new policy on an issue long ignored by the ROC gov ernment, the author highlights certain problems. First, the main compo nents of the policy are outlined, including its organizational arrange ments, Second, problematic areas are examined, including the introduct ion of the 'historic waters' argument. Third, suggestions are made for the improvement of the policy in the hope that the ROC government wil l produce an amended document embodying a more practicable policy.