Taiwan wants Google images of military structures blurred

Taiwan wants Google to blur images of military installations on the only island it controls in the hotly-contested South China Sea – Itu Aba.

Google Earth images show a semicircle of pronged structures on the shoreline of the island opposite an upgraded airstrip and newly-constructed port, Reuters reports.

News of the military upgrades on Itu Aba - which is controlled by Taiwan but claimed by China, Vietnam and the Philippines – comes amid rising tensions in the region over Beijing’s territorial claims for the Spratly Islands.

"Under the pre-condition of protecting military secrets and security, we have requested Google blur images of important military facilities," Taiwan Defense Ministry spokesman Chen Chung-chi was quoted by Reuters as saying.

The request from Taiwan came after local media published the photos.

Google has not responded to requests for comment.

In July, a United Nations court of arbitration sided with the Philippines, ruling that China could not claim historic rights over the islands.

It also characterised Itu Aba as a rock, meaning it could not be used to assert territorial claims over surrounding waters.

China and Taiwan both rejected the ruling.