Chinese Government Vessels Enter Taiping Island's Restricted Waters, Green Party: 'Only Fuels Taiwanese Resentment'

(Taipei, December 12 — Reporter Wang Yang-yu) Two Chinese government vessels entered the restricted waters around Taiping Island for the first time, sparking widespread discussion. Tsai Chi-chang, convener of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus in the Legislative Yuan, stated in a media interview today that such actions only intensify resentment among the Taiwanese people and further distance cross-strait relations.

The Ocean Affairs Council's Coast Guard Administration issued a press release on the 11th, strongly condemning the incident. It described the intrusion as an escalation of gray-zone coercion, aimed at creating a false impression of jurisdictional control, violating international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and challenging the international order.

Regarding the issue, Tsai Chi-chang stated during a press briefing at the Legislative Yuan that China's actions only deepen public resentment in Taiwan. He emphasized that China's infringement on the sovereignty of the Republic of China (ROC) pushes cross-strait relations further apart and intensifies dissatisfaction and hostility among the Taiwanese people toward China.

Tsai pointed out that such actions by China contribute nothing to peaceful and stable cross-strait development or peace in the Taiwan Strait. He reiterated Taiwan's repeated calls for China to exercise restraint, affirming that the existence of the ROC is a fact, and stressed that every citizen should safeguard the security and interests of the ROC.

When asked about U.S. national security officials urging Taiwan to raise its defense budget to 10% of GDP, and KMT Chairperson Eric Chu's comment that such a move lacks public support in Taiwan, Tsai responded that defense spending should be determined based on Taiwan's actual needs and consultations with U.S. officials. He noted that the agreed amount for the last round of arms purchases was NT$1.25 trillion, but the KMT opposed it. The key issue, he argued, is not the percentage of GDP, but meeting Taiwan's real defense requirements—something the KMT refuses to support. (Editor: Su Chih-tsung) 1150612