Taiwan’s envoy to the United Kingdom, Yao Chin-hsiang, has called upon the United Kingdom and other Western allies to collaborate in deterring Chinese aggression against Taiwan. Yao Chin-hsiang made these remarks during a Council on Geostrategy public panel event on January 30, emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
Yao urged the UK to express continued concern for the region’s peace and stability, oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo, and actively take concrete measures to safeguard freedom of navigation in the area. He stressed that a Chinese military blockade in the Taiwan Strait would not only have catastrophic effects on global economic and trade activities but would also significantly harm China.
During the panel discussion, Yao Chin-hsiang underscored the necessity for the UK and its allies to make it clear to China that they recognize the potential repercussions of such actions. He stated that Taiwan seeks to be a force for good in the world and has a responsibility to uphold peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
Yao referred to the unprecedented level of Chinese interference in Taiwan’s elections, emphasizing the need for vigilance against military and economic coercion. He expressed Taiwan’s willingness to share experiences with other nations facing similar challenges.
On January 31, Taiwan’s Marine Corps conducted a maritime drill at the Zuoying Naval Base in Kaohsiung, featuring a mine-laying ship and a domestically built assault boat. The exercise aimed to test the Marine Corps’ ability to quickly identify Chinese military movements, enhance combat preparedness, and assess operational capabilities in defending against a potential Chinese invasion.
As tensions persist in the Taiwan Strait, Taiwan continues to highlight the significance of international support in deterring Chinese aggression. The call to action comes amidst China’s increased use of “grey zone tactics” near Taiwan, including deployments of military aircraft and naval vessels over the median line and inside Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). Despite international objections, China maintains its claim over Taiwan as its territory.
