Against Hague rule, President Tsai defenses sovereignty / 總統登艦捍衛主權 太平島戰備任務照常　　　　　　　　　　

An arbitral tribunal in The Hague ruled that Taiping Island is not an island but a rock, denying the Island's claim to an exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles. The ruling was not acceptable by the government. A Navy Kang Ding class frigate sailed one day ahead of schedule to conduct patrol missions in the South China Sea. President Tsai Ing-Wen boarded the Di Hua frigate to deliver a talk as the Commander-in-Chief and reiterated Taiwan's position to safeguard its sovereignty. (Footage Courtesy of the Presidential Office/ Military News Agency) On July 12th, a UN tribunal ruled that Taiping Island is not an island but a rock, which is not entitled to a 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone. The government did not accept the ruling. A Navy Kang Ding class frigate sailed to conduct patrols in the South China Sea a day earlier than scheduled after President Tsai spoke to the crew as the Commander-in-Chief. ==TSAI ING-WEN President== The ruling has significantly jeopardized our country's sovereignty over islands in the South China Sea and their surrounding waters. This ship represents the ROC. This patrol mission is to demonstrate our resolve to protect our country's interests. The President also stated that the ruling was not legally binding on the government. ==Tsai Ing-Wen President== The South China Sea disputes should be resolved peacefully through multilateral negotiations. We are willing to promote peace and stability in the region through dialogue based on equality. (Footage Courtesy of the Presidential Office/ Military News Agency) The President reiterated that the South China Sea disputes should be resolved peacefully and that the military would safeguard the country's interests. She also stated that regular training and missions would still be carried out in Taiping Island. TRANSLATED BY：LUKE CHIANG 一看到總統蔡英文，海軍弟兄立刻行軍禮。南海仲裁案12號出爐，仲裁判斷結果認定我太平島不是島嶼而是岩礁，無法享有兩百海浬專屬經濟區，這樣的結果我方不接受，海軍康定級艦原定14號出發執行南海巡弋任務，決定提前一天出發，總統蔡英文也以三軍統帥的身分向官兵發表重要談話。 ==總統 蔡英文== 南海仲裁的判斷 特別是對太平島的認定 已經嚴重損及我國對南海諸島 以及相關海域的權利 這艘船 代表中華民國 這次巡航的任務 就是要展現臺灣人民 捍衛國家利益的決心 對於仲裁判斷，總統也認為對我方不具有任何法律拘束力。 ==總統 蔡英文 == 我們向來主張 南海問題的解決 應該要透過多邊協商 和平解決爭端 我們也願意在平等協商的基礎上 跟相關國家 共同促進南海區域的和平及穩定 強調南海爭議應該和平解決，蔡英文同時向國軍喊話，希望他們肩負起捍衛國家權益的職責，而我太平島的戰備跟任務也不受影響，一切照常舉行。 記者 王柔婷 陳顯坤 高雄報導