Taipei, Oct. 6 (CNA) A pier being built by Taiwan on Taiping Island, the largest of the Nansha (Spratly) Islands in the disputed South China Sea, is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2015, coast guard officials said Monday.

Work will begin next year on an access road, boat ramp and runway improvements to be completed the same year on the less-than 0.5 square kilometer island, according to Wang Ginn-wang, minister of the Coast Guard Administration, who was answering lawmakers' questions along with other officials from his agency.

When completed, the pier will be able to accommodate 3,000-ton naval frigates and coastguard cutters. The total cost of the project is estimated at NT$3.3 billion (US$108 million).

Located about 1,600 km from the southern port city of Kaohsiung on Taiwan's main island, Taiping Island is the southernmost territory under the control of the Taiwanese government.

It is currently manned by Taiwanese coast guard personnel.

(By Liu Chien-pang and Christie Chen)
ENDITEM/WH