China's pressure campaign against Taiwan threatens regional stability
Taipei Ma, y 23
Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chiu Chui-cheng has accused China of attempting to erase the Republic of China and forcibly annex Taiwan, stressing that Beijing, not Taipei, is responsible for destabilising the Taiwan Strait and altering the regional "status quo", as reported by The Taipei Times.
According to The Taipei Times, speaking in an interview, Chiu said the Chinese government has consistently expanded military intimidation and grey-zone tactics against Taiwan while falsely portraying Taipei as the source of tensions.
He argued that Beijing's long-term objective is to undermine Taiwan's sovereignty and pressure it into accepting Chinese rule.
Chiu noted that the United States has repeatedly reaffirmed its support for Taiwan and regional stability.
Referring to statements by US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, he said Washington's Taiwan policy remains unchanged despite recent diplomatic engagements between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Chiu emphasised that continued US arms sales are essential for maintaining deterrence and preserving peace across the Taiwan Strait.
The minister also highlighted America's long-standing policy of "strategic ambiguity" regarding military intervention in the event of a Chinese attack on Taiwan.
He added that countries along the First Island Chain continue to prioritise strengthening their defence capabilities to counter Beijing's growing military assertiveness.
Reaffirming Taiwan's political position, Chiu said the MAC would continue defending the Republic of China as a sovereign and democratic state while safeguarding freedom, democracy and regional peace.
He stressed that maintaining the current "status quo" should not be interpreted as advocating formal Taiwan independence.
Chiu further accused Beijing of broadening its definition of "Taiwan independence" to target nearly every aspect of Taiwan's governance and international engagement, including defence procurement, diplomatic outreach and measures against Chinese influence operations, as highlighted by The Taipei Times.
He also criticised Taiwan's opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), alleging that delays in approving defence budgets could weaken international confidence in Taiwan's ability to defend itself against Chinese pressure.
Chiu warned that any political force echoing Beijing's narratives risked becoming part of China's united front strategy against Taiwan, as reported by The Taipei Times.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Taiwan is clearly a separate country with its own government, military, and democratic system. China's 'One China' policy is just a cover for expansionism. We in India know this all too well from Ladakh and Arunachal.
The US selling arms to Taiwan is just provoking China further. India should stay neutral in this - we have our own border issues with China to handle. Why should we support American interests in Taiwan? Focus on our own backyard first.
China is trying to erase the ROC? That's rich coming from a country that itself claims Taiwan as its own territory. The world should recognize Taiwan's sovereignty - it's a thriving democracy with 23 million people. India must stand with democratic nations against authoritarian expansion.
This is serious. China's military intimidation in the Taiwan Strait mirrors what they do to us in the Indian Ocean Region. Regional stability requires all of us, especially India, to build stronger partnerships with Taiwan, Japan, and the US to counter Beijing's aggression.
Having lived in Taiwan for work, I can tell you the people there genuinely fear China's annexation threats. The US needs to maintain strategic ambiguity while supplying defensive weapons. India should offer tech cooperation with Taiwan too, especially in semiconductors.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.