Taiwan leader Ma Ying-Jeou visited Taiping Island, the largest island in the Nansha Islands in the South China Sea on Thursday.

Ma said the sovereignty of Nansha, Xisha, Zhongsha, Dongshan and surrounding waters is beyond doubt. He appealed all parties in the South China Sea dispute to suspend their disagreements and develop the area together.

The island has the naturally largest landmass in the South China Sea.

Islands in the South China Sea had been included in the coastal defense system since 1721 during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), and had been inspected and managed since then, Ma said, adding the current goal is building Taiping Island into a maritime rescue hub and an environment friendly area.

Commenting on Ma's visit to the island, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Thursday that the Nansha Islands are historically Chinese territory and Chinese people living on both sides of the straits have the responsibility to safeguard the heritage.

The Chinese government has always dedicated itself to making the South China Sea a place of peace, friendship and cooperation and will continue efforts to make positive contributions to maintaining the navigational freedom, peace and prosperity of the South China Sea, Hua added.

Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson at the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said on Wednesday that China owns indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea islands.

Both sides across the Straits have the responsibility to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and safeguarding the overall interests of the Chinese nation and the fundamental interests, Ma Xiaoguang said.