Taiwan-China Relations

Taiwan Holds Sea Drone Show Amid Growing Maritime Pressure From China

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By TaiwanPlus

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Taiwan is stepping up efforts to protect its surrounding waters as concerns grow over China’s gray-zone activities at sea. Speaking at a sea drone exhibition, Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling said Taiwan’s connection to the world depends heavily on the ocean and that safeguarding nearby waters is essential for both Taiwan’s security and global economic activity. The exhibition featured autonomous surface vessels designed for offshore surveillance and emergency response. Analysts say the increasing scale of maritime challenges around Taiwan will require new technologies and closer international cooperation. National Security Program researcher Cathy Fang said uncrewed systems can help reduce risks to personnel while allowing crewed vessels to focus on the most critical missions. The event comes amid a recent increase in Chinese military activity around Taiwan.

Taiwan Boosts Sea Defense

Taiwan is stepping up its commitment to protect its waters amid growing concerns over China's gray-zone activities at sea.

Kuan Bi-ling (MINISTER, OCEAN AFFAIRS COUNCIL):  
Our connection to the outside world is heavily dependent on the ocean. Taiwan is also near one of the most important shipping lanes in the world. Therefore, protecting these waters is vital to the lives of Taiwanese people and to global economic development.

Minister Kuan was speaking at a sea drone exhibition. The event showcased autonomous surface vessels designed for offshore surveillance and emergency response. She says Taiwan must protect its own waters and maintain awareness of surrounding seas. One analyst says the growing scale of the challenge will require new tools and stronger international cooperation.

Cathy Fang (NATIONAL SECURITY PROGRAM, DSET):  
The challenge we face right now is larger, but what we have right now is still the crew vessels and also the personnel. We need to save them for the most important missions, save their life also, so that uncrewed system is really important.

This comes amid a recent surge in Chinese military activity around Taiwan.