In a speech on Tuesday (September 8), Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen called on like-minded countries and friends of democracy to discuss a structure to unite forces and deter “unilateral aggression”. By aggression, she was clearly referring to China.
In a speech Tuesday at the opening of the Ketagalan Forum-2020 Asia-Pacific Security Dialogue, Tsai Ing-wen said that the rapidly escalating militarization of the South China Sea, the increasingly rampant “gray zone activity” in the Taiwan Strait and the East China Sea, and the diplomatic The Indo-Pacific region has been destabilized by coercion. Tsai’s rhetoric was seen as directed at China.
Tsai said, “We need a transparent strategic order that solves problems through dialogue, not the threat of war. We need a strategy that avoids war and clearly communicates our determination to defend democracy. No country can achieve the goal of maintaining regional peace, prosperity and security on its own, she said, but rather broad cooperation is needed, and in that regard “we need the help of all countries, and that’s where we can help each other.
In her speech Tuesday, Tsai Ing-wen said Taiwan is committed to accelerating the development of asymmetric warfare and enhancing its capability to build national armaments, and is currently planning a reform of its reserve mobilization system. She said Taiwan has an unshirkable responsibility for its own defense, and the government has increased its defense budget, as well as procured essential equipment such as F-16V fighter jets and missiles from the United States to boost its asymmetric warfare capabilities.
Since Tsai Ing-wen became president in 2016, Taiwan has refused to accept Beijing’s demands for the “1992 Consensus” and the “One-China Principle,” much to Beijing’s annoyance. China has exerted various forms of pressure on Taiwan under the banner of “motherland reunification,” and relations between Taiwan and the Straits have deteriorated.
Recently, China has increased its military threats against Taiwan. Since the beginning of the year, Chinese military aircraft have made frequent flights around Taiwan, entering Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) several times and even flying over the sensitive centerline of the Taiwan Strait. Last month, the PLA conducted a lengthy live-fire military exercise in the waters north and south of Taiwan, which was seen as a deterrent intended to send a warning to Taiwan, particularly to the forces of independence.
Under pressure from China’s military threats, Taiwan has sought the support of additional countries. In addition to strong support from the U.S. Trump administration, Taiwan has sought support from the United Kingdom, Canada, the European Union, and Japan, among others. These countries have given Taiwan verbal and moral support, such as solidarity with Taiwan in becoming an observer at the WHO or “otherwise” joining the WHO.
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