[Cross-Strait] Hong Pu-chao Column: The more China talks about internal affairs, the more the world talks about the Taiwan Strait
bella@@ 央廣 新聞7h ago
The G7 Leaders' Statement once again reiterated their opposition to changing the status quo in the East China Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait through force or coercion. This is not the first time the international community has included the Taiwan Strait in discussions on regional security. From the G7, EU, NATO, to the US, Japan, and South Korea, major regional powers in the international community view the Taiwan Strait as a regional security issue. China, on the other hand, is investing more resources to strengthen the narrative that 'Taiwan is China's internal affair.' The internationalization of the Taiwan Strait issue and the internalization of the Taiwan issue have become the two most significant forces in the current Taiwan Strait situation.
Anti-Taiwan Independence Becomes a Key Narrative for China's Explanation of the Taiwan Strait Situation
China's ultimate goal for its Taiwan policy has not changed; from Xi Jinping's speeches to discussions at relevant meetings, unification remains the core direction. What is more noteworthy in recent years is the application of tools. Military deterrence, maritime law enforcement, legal warfare, cognitive warfare, and anti-Taiwan independence narratives work in concert to form a more complete framework for Taiwan-related work.
Anti-Taiwan independence has become a key narrative for China's external explanation of the Taiwan Strait situation. From official Chinese documents, external propaganda, to diplomatic occasions, China has long attributed tensions in the Taiwan Strait to Taiwan independence forces and external interference. Anti-Taiwan independence, opposition to external interference, and the promotion of the unification process have become the main framework for China's external explanation of the Taiwan Strait situation. When the international community focuses on Taiwan Strait security, China strives to pull the discussion back to its political assertion that Taiwan is part of China.
The anti-Taiwan independence narrative provides political justification, while maritime law enforcement demonstrates jurisdictional actions; the two complement each other.
China Accumulates Jurisdictional Facts Through Governance Actions
Chinese coast guard vessels have recently entered waters near Kinmen, eastern Taiwan, and around Itu Aba Island, intensifying gray-zone operations against Taiwan. These actions cannot be viewed solely as part of military pressure. Coast guard patrols, maritime law enforcement, waterway management, and maritime surveys, while seemingly technical tasks, all involve the assertion of jurisdiction. Military aircraft and warships can create deterrence, while coast guard law enforcement demonstrates jurisdiction. Wherever the Chinese coast guard appears and its enforcement extends, it is equivalent to bringing its sovereignty claims there.
The Taiwan Strait is Included in a Larger Regional Security Framework by the G7
Japan has repeatedly emphasized the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Joint statements from EU-Korea summits have included content on the Taiwan Strait, NATO summit documents focus on Indo-Pacific security, and the G7 has included the Taiwan Strait in its leaders' statements for several consecutive years. The reasons for countries' attention to the Taiwan Strait are very practical. If a conflict were to occur in the Taiwan Strait, regional security, maritime transport routes, energy transportation, and global supply chains would all be impacted.
The G7 leaders' statement on the 17th specifically placed the East China Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait in the same section for discussion, emphasizing opposition to changing the status quo through force or coercion. The statement did not discuss unification or independence positions, nor did it intervene in cross-strait political claims. The G7's focus is on regional security, international law, and the Indo-Pacific order. This way of expression indicates that the Taiwan Strait has been incorporated into a larger regional security framework.
The More the International Community Emphasizes Peace and Stability in the Taiwan Strait, the More China Dares Not Act Rashly
From military exercises, coast guard enforcement, to anti-Taiwan independence discourse, China hopes the international community will accept that Taiwan is China's internal affair. On the other hand, the G7, EU, NATO, US, Japan, and South Korea have repeatedly included the Taiwan Strait in joint statements and security documents in recent years. While discussing the same Taiwan Strait, both sides use different frameworks. China talks about internal affairs, while the international community talks about regional security.
For Taiwan, the international community's inclusion of the Taiwan Strait in regional security discussions also raises the political cost for China to unilaterally change the status quo. When the international community views peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait as part of its common interests, it becomes harder for China to persuade the international community to accept the narrative that the Taiwan issue is merely China's internal affair. The more the international community emphasizes peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, the less China will dare to take rash actions that disrupt the status quo. (Editor: Chen Wen-wei)
Further Reading
G7 Leaders' Statement Opposes Unilateral Attempts to Change the Status Quo in the Taiwan Strait
Frequent Intrusions by Chinese Coast Guard Vessels into Waters, Washington Urges Beijing to Stop Pressuring Taiwan
Author: Hong Pu-chao, Full-time University Teacher, Deputy Executive Director of the Center for Mainland China and Regional Development Studies, Tunghai University
Source Link: https://www.rti.org.tw/news?uid=3&pid=215196
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