Taiwan is conducting a live-ammunition military drill on Taiping Island of the Nansha Islands, the first such exercise by Taiwan in the South China Sea since regional disputes escalated this year.

We appreciate this exercise, which helps protect Chinese sovereignty.

Vietnam's protest against Taiwan's drill should be neglected. The Nansha Islands belong to China, which is an unshakable bottom line insisted upon by Chinese society. Taiwan, despite its economic ties with Vietnam and the Philippines, has overcome their opposition and made pragmatic efforts to safeguard Chinese sovereignty.

Territorial issues have remained unaddressed since the first half of last century. They are difficult to approach and solve today, despite rising maritime and sovereignty awareness across Asia.

In recent years, the Chinese mainland has been taking countermeasures to fight provocations over sovereignty by the Philippines, Vietnam and Japan, while also wrangling with the "smart power" diplomacy of the US in the Pacific. But Taiwan has its unique advantages in safeguarding Chinese sovereignty.

The hyping-up of the "China threat" mainly targets the mainland. Taiwan's efforts to protect Chinese sovereignty will not raise excessive suspicions, and it will not be labeled as a "bully."

Meanwhile, Taiwan is close to the Diaoyu Islands, which are under the administration of Taiwan's Ilan county. Taiping Island, the biggest island of the Nansha Islands, is under Taiwan's practical control.

Compared with the mainland, it is easy and convenient for Taiwan to take steps to protect sovereignty.

It is not that we want to shake off the mainland's responsibilities. Its comprehensive strength determines that the mainland must undertake the lion's share in such tasks. However, the mainland faces a complex strategic environment.

We understand Taiwan's special relationship with the US and the dilemma that Taiwan authorities face.

The US is using maritime territorial disputes to check the mainland's rise, and it does not want to see Taiwan help the mainland over territorial disputes in East Asia.

Nonetheless, Taiwan cannot remain as a bystander. It must look at the interests of the entire Chinese people, and act in the current island disputes in East Asia.

This drill on the Taiping Island comes at a good time. The mainland is building up its naval strength and reinforcing law enforcement in waters surrounding disputed islands. It is prepared for more possible frictions with regional countries in the future. In this process, actions by Taiwan like this drill will help stress Chinese claims.

Along with the growth of the mainland and the deepening of ties across the Taiwan Straits, Taiwan needs to change its habit of often being in lockstep with the US.

This is not a requirement by the mainland, but is prompted by the changing political landscape in the Asia-Pacific. Taiwan leaders should embrace this change.