The Department of National Defense was surprised over Taiwan’s decision to deploy missiles on its occupied island in the disputed South China Sea but saw no immediate threat, owing to the existing good relations between the country and Taiwan.

“That’s surprising. Anyway, that’s their prerogative. Should they want to do that, nobody can stop them. However, they should not encroach into others’ interests so that peace will be maintained,” said lawyer Zosimo Paredes, defense spokesman.

Taiwan has announced it will arm its Coast Guard personnel deployed in Itu Aba in the South China Sea with Tien Chien I missiles that would replace its outdated Chaparral missiles. Its decision was made due to concerns over other claimant countries, including Vietnam, the Philippines and China, continued buildup of forces and arms and their fortifications of structures in their occupied territories.

Itu Aba, the largest island in the disputed territory, is occupied by Taiwan, which erected bunkers and fortress, including a runway.

Taiwanese legislator Lin Yu-fang said the deployment of the ground-to-air missile Tien Chien I, which has a range of up to 40 kilometers, should back the Coast Guard stationed on the island and which is only equipped with 20-mm air defense guns.

While Taiwan’s decision to deploy the missile was for it to protect its territory on the disputed group of islands, Paredes said it should have been coordinated with the other claimant- states, especially those it considered “friends” or allies.

“I think moves like these should be coordinated first so that we will not be taken aback… so that such action will not be seen as aggression or anything else in that nature,” Paredes said. “It may be okay with us, but that might be taken by other countries concerned as something not really friendly, it may be misunderstood.”

Paredes said Taiwan’s action may increase the tension in the South China Sea as other claimants may take it as a form of an aggressive action.

While Taiwan cited the increased activities of other claimants in the group of islands, particularly the Philippines and Vietnam, as the reasons behind its move, others view it as it has something to do with China’s reiteration of its islands’ ownership.

“Taiwan used Vietnam and the Philippines as excuses, when in fact, its move was connected with China’s silent pronouncement of owning the Spratlys through a White Paper that it recently issued,” said one military officer.

The White Paper outlined China’s future directions, both politically and economically, along with increased participation in the international scene.

Countries that have pending territorial issues with China were concerned with a particular content of the White Paper which says: “China is firm in upholding its core interests which include the following: state sovereignty, national security, territorial integrity and national reunification.”

Analysts said the sovereignty and territorial integrity mentioned silently speaks of the Spratlys, over which China maintained ownership through historic rights.