[Cross-Strait] Hong Pu-chao Column: The more China talks about internal affairs, the more the world talks about the Taiwan Strait
bellala 央廣5h ago
The G7 summit 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 important forces in the current Taiwan Strait situation.
Anti-Taiwan Independence Becomes an Important Narrative for China to Explain the Taiwan Strait Situation Externally
China's ultimate goal in 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 use of tools. Military deterrence, maritime law enforcement, legal warfare, cognitive warfare, and the anti-Taiwan independence narrative work in coordination, forming a more complete framework for dealing with Taiwan.
Anti-Taiwan independence has become an important narrative for China to explain the Taiwan Strait situation externally. 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, opposing external interference, and promoting the process of unification have become the main framework for China to explain the Taiwan Strait situation externally. When the international community focuses on Taiwan Strait security, China strives to bring the discussion back to its political claim that Taiwan is part of China.
The anti-Taiwan independence narrative provides political justification, while maritime law enforcement demonstrates jurisdictional behavior, and the two complement each other.
China Accumulates Jurisdictional Facts Through Governance Actions
China's Coast Guard has recently entered the waters around Kinmen, eastern Taiwan, and Taiping Island, strengthening its gray-zone operations against Taiwan. These actions cannot be seen merely as part of military pressure. Coast guard patrols, maritime law enforcement, waterway management, and maritime surveys, while appearing to be 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 law 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, the EU-Korea summit joint statement included content on the Taiwan Strait, NATO summit documents focused on the Indo-Pacific security situation, and the G7 has included the Taiwan Strait in its leaders' statements for several consecutive years. The reasons for various countries' attention to the Taiwan Strait are very practical. If a conflict were to occur in the Taiwan Strait, regional security, maritime transport lines, energy transportation, and global supply chains would all be impacted.
G7 leaders issued a statement on the 17th, specifically placing the East China Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait in the same point of discussion, emphasizing opposition to changing the status quo through force or coercion. The statement did not discuss unification or independence stances, 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 Values Peace and Stability in the Taiwan Strait, the Less China Dares to Act Rashly
From military exercises, coast guard enforcement, to the 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, they are using different frameworks. China talks about internal affairs, while the international community talks about regional security.
For Taiwan, the inclusion of the Taiwan Strait in regional security discussions by the international community 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 that the Taiwan issue is merely China's internal affair. The more the international community values 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 Summit 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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