The Cabinet-level Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling said Feb. 19 that the council is committed to working with its Indo-Pacific counterparts to safeguard peace, prosperity and stability in the region. Kuan made the remarks during an interview on a current affairs Yahoo TV program.
China has increased its grey zone assaults on Taiwan by holding military exercises, as well as harassing the country by the frequent appearance of coast guard ships, militia fishing boats and scientific research ships in waters surrounding Taiwan, Kuan said. The minister said that that vessels from China have conducted research in Taiwan’s contiguous zone recently, with at least 65 resulting scientific articles published over the past decade in international journals, she added.
The minister said that the close approach to Taiwan of such ships also had strategic intentions, as the surveys included information about seabed geology, topography and hydrology. The OAC will deal with such ships with caution while at the same time advancing the country’s own scientific research in surrounding waters to secure its right to speech in the global arena, she noted.
The OAC is committed to working with Indo-Pacific partners in strengthening maritime law enforcement and disaster relief, Kuan said, citing a joint search and rescue drill conducted by Taiwan cutter Shun Hu No. 9 and the Japan Coast Guard patrol vessel Sagami last year.
The minister also noted that military ships from 10 countries including Canada and the U.S. have passed through the Taiwan Strait 17 times last year, demonstrating freedom of navigation of the strait. Kuan concluded by pledging that the OAC will help to secure national security and work with partners to ensure Indo-Pacific peace and stability. (YCH-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw