Taiwan official warns of China's 'salami slicing' tactics
Taiwan's deputy secretary-general of the National Security Council, Lii Wen, warned on Wednesday that China's 'authoritarian expansionism' in regional waters will persist if the world fails to take action. Speaking at an international forum, Lii described Beijing's strategy as 'incremental salami slicing,' where China constantly pushes limits using military, coast guard, research, and maritime militia vessels to assert its maritime claims.
Lii stated that China aims to 'transform international waterways into internal waters' and cautioned that 'if the world fails to voice our concerns or take action, this expansionism will only continue.'
Coordinated pattern seen by Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines
Ocean Affairs Minister Kuan Bi-ling told the forum that Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines face the 'same pattern of actions' that are 'deliberately controlled to remain below the threshold of conventional warfare.' She warned that 'when a series of actions accumulates, it may create an entirely new status quo.' Kuan called for international partners to have a 'shared understanding of the status quo' and prepare coordinated response measures 'before the next crisis occurs.'
Recent incidents highlight tensions
Their remarks came a day after a face-off between Japanese and Chinese coast guard ships near disputed islands known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China. Each side claimed they drove out the other's vessels from their territorial waters. Last month, China began patrolling waters east of Taiwan for the first time, following talks between Japan and the Philippines to draw a boundary in that area, which Beijing called 'illegal.'
Taiwan rejects Chinese claims
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and asserts jurisdiction over waters around the island, which Taipei rejects. Ocean Affairs Deputy Minister Sung Chen-en said he would ensure China's patrol is not 'permanent,' noting the affected waters are 'within our exclusive economic zone.' He added, 'They don't have rights here, no matter what are their excuses.'
US senator calls for international action
At the forum, US Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth urged the international community to continue transiting waters claimed by China and 'overtly reject attempts by the Communist Party to force us to adhere to their norms and the new rules that they want to set up.'
