Analysis: How does Taiwan respond when security in the Asia-Pacific region sounds the alarm? (Photo) -Taiwan Strait-United States-China-News America-KanChina News Network-Historical Secrets of Overseas Chinese-Current Affairs Commentary–KanChina News Network

The picture shows the area where Chinese Coast Guard ships conduct live-fire exercises in the northeast of Pingtan Island, Fujian Province. (Image source: Getty Images)

[Watch China, April 24, 2024](Watch China reporter Li Jiaqi’s comprehensive report) The countdown to the 520 presidential inauguration has entered. Faced with the Chinese Communist Party’s offensive and military threats against Taiwan, and the rising international geopolitical risks, how can Taiwan prepare for early warning? Responding is extremely important. China Central Radio and Kainan University held a roundtable forum on “Regional Conflict and National Security” on the 24th, inviting scholars and experts to have in-depth discussions.

Topics discussed at today’s forum include Taiwan’s response to regional conflicts, cognitive warfare and national security, the development of the security situation in the Taiwan Strait from the 45th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, East Asia geopolitics and regional security.

Zhang Ruichang, director of the Central Broadcasting Corporation, said that regional security has become a subject of high international concern. The United States has responded through bilateral, trilateral, multilateral and other means, which can be said to be an upgrade and further evolution of the sector strategy. Taiwan is at the forefront of the first island chain. , plays an indispensable role in regional security.

Legislator Chen Guanting, who has long paid attention to Taiwan’s foreign affairs and defense issues, believes that the issue of geopolitical conflicts is currently the focus of the international community. The challenges the United States now faces are from the Middle East, Israel, Iran, to Ukraine and Russia, as well as North Korea and the Taiwan Strait. The emergence of multiple regional conflicts at the same time is an unprecedented challenge in the past thirty years. What is different from the past situation is that the current opponents are all regional hegemons.

Chen Guanting analyzed that for Taiwan, the geopolitical conflicts it currently faces are similar to those of its allies. How to deter potential geopolitical conflicts depends on the two major tasks of “resource investment” and “re-assurance.” He pointed out that “resource investment” means increasing investment in oneself. Only by strengthening strength can peace be maintained. “Re-ensuring” means strengthening cooperation with allies such as the United States and NATO. For example, the “Indo-Pacific Security Policy” recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives “Supplementary Appropriations Bill” is to respond with practical actions to the outside world’s doubts about the United States’ will to support its allies.

Chen Guanting emphasized that he has always advocated the continuous increase of defense budget. Judging from the enlightenment of the Russia-Ukraine war, as long as appropriate military resources are invested, facts have proved that these totalitarian countries are not as powerful as imagined. At the same time, we must also make a commitment, Only other countries will give us support. Chen Guanting also believes that the national defense sector should clearly inform the public of the current threats and difficulties we are facing in order to gain public support. Diplomats must also change the diplomatic model of politeness in the past and should be familiar with geopolitics, international law and the key points of diplomatic conflict. , can we make a breakthrough.

Regarding US Secretary of State Blinken’s recent visit to China, the US will be concerned about the situation in Russia, Ukraine, the Middle East, the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea. Professor Shen Youzhong of the Department of Politics at Tunghai University said that this means that the United States is willing to recognize China as a major country and calls on China to shoulder its responsibilities. China seems to be willing to engage in dialogue and cooperation with the United States on this issue; however, the part related to Taiwan is still the most difficult part for the United States and China to reach consensus.

Former Major General Dean of the Academy of Political Science and Warfare Yu Zongji also pointed out that among the issues and goals that may be involved in Blinken’s visit, the real issue is still in the Taiwan Strait. It is worth noting that the U.S. House of Representatives has just passed the “Indo-Pacific Security Supplementary Appropriations Act.” , which means that the United States’ support for Taiwan is quite firm and will not change due to interactions between the United States and China.

Yu Zongji believes that the United States continues to build an Asian version of the “mini-NATO” collective defense mechanism. The core of the triangular relations between the United States, Japan and South Korea, the United States, Japan and the Philippines, and the United States, Japan and Australia is to ensure the security of the Taiwan Strait. From this, it can be seen that the security of the Taiwan Strait is between the alliances. Confrontation, Taiwan’s future collective security and defense guarantee will be continuously strengthened as China advances its pressure on Taiwan.

Shen Youzhong also believes that the United States has mutual defense treaties with South Korea, Japan, and the Philippines. Although Taiwan does not, the coherence and consistency of the Taiwan Relations Act over the past 45 years have made its substantive content no less than these mutual defense treaties. The Taiwan Relations Act also connects the United States’ geopolitical importance and ensures that there will be no loopholes in the first island chain.

In addition, Ambassador Gu Ruisheng also participated in the forum online to explain Taiwan’s role and direction in international diplomacy. Gu Ruisheng pointed out that regional conflicts and national security can be viewed through the two main axes of “common values” and “common interests.” First of all, in terms of common values, Taiwan’s democracy, freedom and human rights have always been a gifted student of the international community. Common interests were a relatively neglected part in the past.

Gu Ruisheng believes that as the visibility of Taiwan’s semiconductor industry and its status in international trade increase, Taiwan can combine its strategic position with the common interests of its international allies. For example, the Taiwan Strait accounts for 50% of global commercial shipping volume, and the other is Taiwan. competitiveness. He pointed out that Taiwan will rank sixth in the ranking in 2023. In other words, when a country has excellent competitiveness, international connections will be strengthened, which can also enhance national security and avoid regional conflicts.

Gu Ruisheng also mentioned that international allies actually have many solutions to the so-called “One China” issue. Especially in the latest version of the United States’ Indo-Pacific strategic report, the first key to the United States’ “One China Policy” is “Taiwan” Relations Act; the second is the three communiqués on the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and China; the third is the six guarantees on Taiwan.

Gu Ruisheng said that many allies with similar ideas, including the European Union, the United States, Japan, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, etc., mostly talk about the “one-China policy”, which means they have diplomatic relations with China, but they do not refer to Taiwan as China’s Part of the position is also the basis for diplomatic interaction.

Gu Ruisheng pointed out that what we need to think about now is how to enhance Taiwan’s international visibility. He said that Taiwan has “three treasures”. The first treasure is a country suitable for foreigners to live in, the second treasure is the country with the highest Internet freedom, and the third treasure is the country with the first public health. In the future, we will try to introduce the six treasures. , including knowledge, attractiveness, continuous improvement, compliance with norms, guardian of democracy, and national self-confidence, allowing Taiwan to continue to build good relationships internationally.

It is also worth mentioning that Voice of America reported that the U.S. House of Representatives recently passed an $8 billion military aid plan to counter China’s influence. Lai Qingde, the quasi-president of the Republic of China, said that the bill shows the U.S.’s commitment to Taiwan. security commitments, which will deter authoritarian forces from expanding their capabilities and will enhance the confidence of countries in the Indo-Pacific region in the United States’ defense of liberal and democratic values.

Lisa, a Republican visiting Taiwan. Lisa McClain said, “Peace is our goal. But to do that, we have to build relationships, and the United States values ​​its relationship with Taiwan. Not only militarily, but also economically.”