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.
The Thai government on Friday announced that Taiwanese would be allowed to stay in the country for up to 60 days per entry, under the Southeast Asian country’s visa-free program starting from today. Taiwan is among 93 countries included in the Thai visa-waiver program, which has been expanded from 57 countries, with the visa-exempt entry extended from 30 to 60 days. After taking office last year, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has vowed to grant more visa waivers to foreign travelers as part of efforts to stimulate tourism. The expanded visa-waiver program was on Friday signed by Thai Minister of the Interior Anutin
BAIL APPEALS: The former vice premier was ordered to be held incommunicado despite twice being granted bail and paying a total of NT$12 million in bond The Taoyuan District Court yesterday ordered the detention of former vice premier Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦), who is being investigated for alleged corruption while serving as Taoyuan mayor from December 2014 to December 2022, and that he be held incommunicado. The court made the ruling during a bail hearing after prosecutors appealed its bail ruling twice. Cheng on Saturday was released after posting bail of NT$5 million (US$153,818). However, after prosecutors lodged an appeal, the High Court on Monday revoked the original ruling and ordered the Taoyuan District Court to hold another bail hearing. On Tuesday, the district court granted bail to Cheng a second
PEACE AND SECURITY: China’s military ambitions present ‘the greatest strategic challenge to Japan and the world, Japan’s annual defense white paper said yesterday Japan yesterday warned that China risked escalating tensions with Taiwan with an increase in military exercises that appeared aimed in part at readying Beijing’s forces for a possible invasion. Japan’s annual assessment of security threats, including those posed by China, North Korea and Russia, comes as Taiwan closely monitors Chinese People’s Liberation Army air and sea exercises, including one with the Shandong aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean. The drills are the latest in a series including maneuvers in the Taiwan Strait last year that a senior US general said would be key to any invasion. “Because of that increase in military activity,
HAN KUANG: The exercises, which are to run from July 22 to 26, will feature unscripted war games and a decentralized command and control structure, military officers said The armed forces would for the first time test new rules of engagement (ROE) at this month’s annual Han Kuang exercises, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said yesterday. The exercises, which are to run from July 22 to 26, will feature unscripted war games, and a decentralized command and control structure, military officers told a news conference in Taipei. ROE cards would be issued to select combat troops to test their ability to function without tight control, they said. The most recent edition of the rules was published last year, they said. One of the cards’ two templates identifies enemy targets that soldiers