China is trying to break through the so-called "first island chain" -- which includes Taiwan -- in a bid to project its power into the Pacific Ocean, President Chen Shui-bian (
The president made the comments while inspecting the No. 14 wharf at Kaohsiung Harbor.
Chen also urged the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) to crack down vigorously on illegal trafficking during the Lunar New Year holiday, which begins at the end of this month.
Chen told hundreds of Coast Guard officials that China is using its growing economic and military might to pose a serious challenge to Taiwan's national security.
Last May, Chinese vessels twice intruded into Taiwanese waters in the region of the Pratus Islands. Moreover, due to China's anxiety about its energy resources, it is exploring and exploiting marine resources in the East China Sea and the South China Sea -- worsening tensions with countries who also have claims in those areas, Chen said.
"Taiwan's national security and sovereignty have been jeopardized by China's ambitious efforts to expand its influence into the Pacific Ocean. We have to take the situation seriously," Chen said.
According to Chen, China has long viewed the "first island chain" -- which extends from Japan to the Philippines -- as a barrier to Chinese naval operations in the Pacific. Taiwan, on the other hand, sees the the ocean as its portal to the world.
Chen said that cross-strait smuggling and illegal immigration organized by gangsters on both sides has imperiled social safety, economic stability and the control of infectious diseases in Taiwan.
"Especially during holidays of major lunar festivals, including Lunar New Year, illegally transported goods from China have further burdened our Coast Guard. This year, due to the outbreak of deadly bird flu in China, we have to tackle related criminal activities more aggressively," Chen said.
Last October, the H5N1 strain of bird flu was found in birds being smuggled from China into Taichung Harbor.
Chen said that the Coast Guard has significantly improved its ability to tackle cross-strait crime, and that the government would keep supporting its efforts.
"Early last year, the CGA even exposed a case involving the trading of national defense secrets," Chen said.
At the harbor yesterday, CGA showed off its special teams trained to seize smuggled goods and stop other criminal activities. Advanced vessels, trucks and aircraft were also displayed.
MORE VISITORS: The Tourism Administration said that it is seeing positive prospects in its efforts to expand the tourism market in North America and Europe Taiwan has been ranked as the cheapest place in the world to travel to this year, based on a list recommended by NerdWallet. The San Francisco-based personal finance company said that Taiwan topped the list of 16 nations it chose for budget travelers because US tourists do not need visas and travelers can easily have a good meal for less than US$10. A bus ride in Taipei costs just under US$0.50, while subway rides start at US$0.60, the firm said, adding that public transportation in Taiwan is easy to navigate. The firm also called Taiwan a “food lover’s paradise,” citing inexpensive breakfast stalls
TRADE: A mandatory declaration of origin for manufactured goods bound for the US is to take effect on May 7 to block China from exploiting Taiwan’s trade channels All products manufactured in Taiwan and exported to the US must include a signed declaration of origin starting on May 7, the Bureau of Foreign Trade announced yesterday. US President Donald Trump on April 2 imposed a 32 percent tariff on imports from Taiwan, but one week later announced a 90-day pause on its implementation. However, a universal 10 percent tariff was immediately applied to most imports from around the world. On April 12, the Trump administration further exempted computers, smartphones and semiconductors from the new tariffs. In response, President William Lai’s (賴清德) administration has introduced a series of countermeasures to support affected
CROSS-STRAIT: The vast majority of Taiwanese support maintaining the ‘status quo,’ while concern is rising about Beijing’s influence operations More than eight out of 10 Taiwanese reject Beijing’s “one country, two systems” framework for cross-strait relations, according to a survey released by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) on Thursday. The MAC’s latest quarterly survey found that 84.4 percent of respondents opposed Beijing’s “one country, two systems” formula for handling cross-strait relations — a figure consistent with past polling. Over the past three years, opposition to the framework has remained high, ranging from a low of 83.6 percent in April 2023 to a peak of 89.6 percent in April last year. In the most recent poll, 82.5 percent also rejected China’s
PLUGGING HOLES: The amendments would bring the legislation in line with systems found in other countries such as Japan and the US, Legislator Chen Kuan-ting said Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chen Kuan-ting (陳冠廷) has proposed amending national security legislation amid a spate of espionage cases. Potential gaps in security vetting procedures for personnel with access to sensitive information prompted him to propose the amendments, which would introduce changes to Article 14 of the Classified National Security Information Protection Act (國家機密保護法), Chen said yesterday. The proposal, which aims to enhance interagency vetting procedures and reduce the risk of classified information leaks, would establish a comprehensive security clearance system in Taiwan, he said. The amendment would require character and loyalty checks for civil servants and intelligence personnel prior to
RSS