Taipei, May 13 (CNA) Taiwan called for relevant countries Wednesday to avoid any action that could undermine peace and stability amid the simmering tension in the South China Sea.

The Foreign Ministry made the remark in response to a recent visit by high-ranking officers of the Philippines to one of the islands in the Spratly archipelago to reaffirm their country’s claim to the islands.

Asked about the issue, ministry spokeswoman Anna Kao (高安) reiterated her ministry’s stance that the Republic of China enjoys sovereignty over the South China Sea, and urged against any action that could affect peace in the region.

Whether from the perspective of history, geography or international law, the Spratly, Paracel and Pratas islands and the Macclesfield Bank, along with their surrounding waters, are the inherent territory of the ROC, she said.

Read more: http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201505130009.aspx