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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/21/taiwan-asks-google-blur-images-military-structures-taiping-island
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| Taiwan asks Google to blur images of military structures on island | Taiwan asks Google to blur images of military structures on island |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Taiwan has asked Google to blur images of new military structures that have recently appeared on the hotly contested Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. | Taiwan has asked Google to blur images of new military structures that have recently appeared on the hotly contested Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. |
| Satellite pictures on Google Earth and Maps show four large three-pronged structures surrounding a circular building on the western coastline of Itu Aba, or Taiping Island, which is controlled by Taiwan but also claimed by China, Vietnam and the Philippines. | Satellite pictures on Google Earth and Maps show four large three-pronged structures surrounding a circular building on the western coastline of Itu Aba, or Taiping Island, which is controlled by Taiwan but also claimed by China, Vietnam and the Philippines. |
| The disclosure of the structures, revealed when images was updated in July, comes amid rising tensions over Beijing’s territorial claims in the South China Sea, and at a sensitive time for the Spratly Islands, a major archipelago located in strategic shipping lanes. | The disclosure of the structures, revealed when images was updated in July, comes amid rising tensions over Beijing’s territorial claims in the South China Sea, and at a sensitive time for the Spratly Islands, a major archipelago located in strategic shipping lanes. |
| In July, a United Nations court of arbitration upheld a challenge by the Philippines that China could not claim historic rights over the islands. It also characterised Taiping as a rock, meaning it could not be used to assert territorial claims over surrounding waters. | In July, a United Nations court of arbitration upheld a challenge by the Philippines that China could not claim historic rights over the islands. It also characterised Taiping as a rock, meaning it could not be used to assert territorial claims over surrounding waters. |
| Both China and Taiwan rejected the ruling. | Both China and Taiwan rejected the ruling. |
| The handling of Taiwan’s control of Taiping over China’s sovereignty claims has become one of the testing grounds of the new administration of President Tsai Ing-wen, who swept to power in January. | The handling of Taiwan’s control of Taiping over China’s sovereignty claims has become one of the testing grounds of the new administration of President Tsai Ing-wen, who swept to power in January. |
| On Tuesday, the Coast Guard director-eneral Lee Chung-wei told the national parliament that Google had been notified about concealing the structures. | On Tuesday, the Coast Guard director-eneral Lee Chung-wei told the national parliament that Google had been notified about concealing the structures. |
| The defence ministry said the function of the facilities was classified. | The defence ministry said the function of the facilities was classified. |
| “It is inconvenient for us to reveal any military facilities we are installing on Taiping island, and what their purposes are, as they are all considered secret,” the defence minister, Feng Shih-kuan, told local reporters. | “It is inconvenient for us to reveal any military facilities we are installing on Taiping island, and what their purposes are, as they are all considered secret,” the defence minister, Feng Shih-kuan, told local reporters. |
| The purpose of the structures, which are believed to stand three to four storeys high, sparked immediate speculation that they resembled anti-aircraft towers. Military experts said, however, that they were likely to be for detection and surveillance. | The purpose of the structures, which are believed to stand three to four storeys high, sparked immediate speculation that they resembled anti-aircraft towers. Military experts said, however, that they were likely to be for detection and surveillance. |
| Google confirmed that it had received the request from the Taiwanese government and was reviewing it. |