Opinion: From 'Resisting China to Protect Taiwan' to 'Relying on China to Enrich Taiwan'—Does the Lai Administration Feel No Shame?

The DPP, invaded at its doorstep yet choosing to swallow humiliation. On May 28, 2026, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takagi and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met in Tokyo and agreed to initiate boundary delimitation negotiations over overlapping exclusive economic zones and continental shelves under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on May 31, astonishingly swallowing its pride and expressing approval of Japan and the Philippines' approach to resolving maritime disputes through peaceful dialogue and adherence to international law. This response was immediately criticized by opposition parties and public opinion, with the Lai administration accused of 'abandoning maritime sovereignty' and 'self-marginalization.' (Author provided)

This recalls July 23, 2015, when Lee Teng-hui, during a visit to Japan, explicitly stated in a press conference in Tokyo: 'The Senkaku Islands (Diaoyu Islands) belong to Japan, not Taiwan.' But is this truly the case? (Author provided)

Do you remember when we were young? There was no internet, mobile phones, or pagers. People mostly communicated by mail. Taiwan's postal code list always included the Diaoyu Islands, with postal code 290. At that time, fishermen from Yilan could fish near the Diaoyu Islands or even land to rest without interference, expulsion, or arrest. Today, however, any approach by a Taiwanese fishing vessel results in immediate Japanese expulsion—only restrained when mainland China's coast guard intervenes. Since Taiwan clearly marked sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands back then, it should have clearly asserted its position. Yet Taiwan not only ignored Lee Teng-hui's act tantamount to treason but has consistently shown excessive tolerance toward Japan.

According to Fisheries Agency statistics, from 1997 to 2005, 31 Taiwanese fishing vessels were detained by Japan for crossing boundaries. From 2001 to 2011, historical records from the Tainan City Council and Legislative Yuan show dozens of cases of Taiwanese vessels being boarded, detained, and fined by Japan in waters around the Diaoyu Islands and disputed areas. From 2012 to 2016, detentions occurred as many as 18 times. In other words, over the past 30 years, Japanese detentions of Taiwanese fishing vessels have totaled nearly 100 incidents.

In contrast to Taiwan's turtle-like, conflict-avoiding stance, the mainland's approach differs sharply. On September 7, 2010, a Chinese trawler, Min-Jin Yu 5179, operating near the Diaoyu Islands, collided with a Japan Coast Guard patrol vessel. Japan immediately detained the vessel and arrested the Chinese captain, Zhan Qixiong, on suspicion of 'obstruction of official duties.' The mainland government swiftly launched multi-level negotiations and strong countermeasures (such as suspending ministerial-level exchanges). Then-Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, attending the UN General Assembly in New York, issued a stern warning demanding Japan 'unconditionally release the captain,' or face consequences. Under immense political and economic pressure from China, the Naha District Public Prosecutor's Office ultimately released Zhan Qixiong unconditionally on September 24, citing 'consideration of Sino-Japanese relations.' Zhan then returned safely to Fuzhou aboard a chartered Chinese flight.

Kowtowing to the U.S. and Japan, opposing the mainland

After Japan and the Philippines unilaterally designated Taiwan's eastern waters as economic zones, starting in June 2026, China's coast guard and government vessels, under the pretext of countering Japan and the Philippines' initiation of exclusive economic zone (EEZ) delimitation talks, opened a 'gray zone' legal battle in Taiwan's eastern waters for the first time, taking multiple infringing actions to establish a 'normalized enforcement' status quo in the area. China claimed to have inspected as many as 198 foreign vessels. During this period, Chinese government ships used radio to actively interrogate international commercial vessels (including Singaporean, Liberian, Beninese, and Japanese-operated oil tankers) transiting Taiwan's eastern EEZ, forcibly demanding information on departure ports, destinations, and crew numbers—aiming to create the impression that China holds maritime jurisdiction in this region.

The Lai administration, unsurprisingly, issued a stern statement condemning these actions, emphasizing that China has no right to assert law enforcement authority in Taiwan's eastern waters under any pretext, and that negotiations must not harm Taiwan's interests.

On July 28, 2026, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) unusually posted on its official Facebook page photos showing U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration (CGA) flagship vessels sailing side by side and in formation at sea. An AIT spokesperson claimed: 'The U.S. Coast Guard and Taiwan's Coast Guard are coordinating on shared maritime objectives, such as search and rescue, tropical storm and disaster relief, marine resource conservation, combating illegal fishing, and maritime drug trafficking.' Everyone knows this announcement was made in response to China's increasing 'specific maritime law enforcement actions' in eastern Taiwan. Yet AIT only dared to post one photo, not even disclosing the time or location. If the U.S. truly valued Taiwan, couldn't it directly warn Japan and the Philippines? It's like a weak woman being bullied by a neighbor, and an old lecher comes to grope her, saying, 'Spend the night with me, take a photo, and they won't bully you.' The next day, he leaves without a trace, and the neighbor continues bullying the woman—only when the big brother across the street intervenes does the bully back down.

The DPP abandons Taiwan's legal rights, and the mainland naturally takes their place

Since the DPP took power, Taiwan has continuously lost legally protected maritime interests. The Diaoyu Islands waters to the north were lost under Chen Shui-bian, the median line in the Taiwan Strait to the west disappeared under Tsai Ing-wen, and now PLA aircraft may even be able to fly over Taiwan to take photos. In Lai Qingde's era, the Pacific waters to the east are being unilaterally divided by Japan and the Philippines with no response from Taiwan. Taiwanese people have held in their frustration for nearly 30 years, helplessly watching Japan detain Taiwanese fishing vessels nearly 100 times over three decades. This is precisely why, when China's coast guard recently conducted so-called 'rights protection enforcement' patrols in eastern Taiwan waters in protest against Japan and the Philippines' EEZ delimitation talks, there was widespread approval online in Taiwan—because Taiwanese people have endured this humiliation for far too long!

Why aren't Taiwanese people afraid of military exercises around Taiwan? Ask who truly treats Taiwan well

A mainland compatriot once asked me: 'Why, despite China's multiple large-scale military drills, do Taiwanese people not seem afraid?' The reason is simple. First, in the world, which two warring regimes, before starting a war, have one side contributing an average of tens of billions of dollars in trade annually for over 20 years? Second, which regime repeatedly emphasizes, even if war breaks out, it will target only a few independence advocates, not the majority of ordinary people? Then, which regime consistently hopes for mutual exchange and understanding? And which regime always extends help when a third country is in crisis? Aside from the firm stance on the 'two-state' issue, in all other aspects, it shows willingness to negotiate. Taiwanese people may not say it aloud, but they still feel this goodwill. If today it were Japan or the Philippines, seeking to annex Taiwan as part of their territory, starting to threaten invasion and conducting repeated landing drills around Taiwan, with China and the U.S. declaring non-interference, would Taiwanese people not be terrified? Because Taiwanese people know that in such a scenario, Japanese or Philippine forces would kill. If China's coast guard had not forcefully intervened, Taiwan's eastern fishing grounds would likely already be part of Japan and the Philippines' exclusive economic zones.

Mainland civilian fishing vessels repeatedly rescue Taiwanese fishing vessels

Besides the recent coast guard patrols in eastern Taiwan, mainland civilian fishing vessels have also rescued Taiwanese vessels multiple times:

- November 2020 (Penghu waters, personnel overboard): Four Taiwanese researchers conducting diving operations in Penghu waters drifted away and went missing due to currents. The Fujian Dongshan County fishing vessel Min-Dong Yu 62206 discovered them, rescued all four, provided food and drink, and contacted Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration through cross-strait civilian channels to return them.

- November 2022 (North Pacific ship fire rescue): The Taiwanese saury and squid jigging vessel Xiangqing caught fire suddenly while operating in the North Pacific high seas. The nearby mainland Ningbo-based远洋 fishing vessel Yongfa 1 immediately rushed to the scene and successfully rescued 48 Taiwanese crew members who had transferred to life rafts.

- May 2025 (Malacca Strait long-distance rescue): The Taiwanese fishing vessel Ri Da Zhan lost power due to mechanical failure in the Malacca Strait shipping lane. The mainland Zhejiang远洋 fishing vessel Shunxing 9 discovered it and immediately launched a 1,500-nautical-mile, seven-day-and-night towing operation, successfully escorting the Taiwanese vessel and its 51 crew members safely back to waters near Taiwan.

- April 2026 (Diaoyu Islands area ship fire): The Keelung-based Taiwanese fishing vessel Quan Yu 6 caught fire in waters northeast of the Diaoyu Islands (Huangwei Islet). Mainland coast guard vessels on patrol nearby immediately rushed to the scene to extinguish the fire and assist in rescuing crew members who had fallen overboard. (Note: This incident sparked political interpretations and disputes over 'rescue leadership' across the strait. Taiwan's Coast Guard emphasized that foreign crew were first rescued by a Taiwanese friendly vessel, but mainland coast guard did assist in firefighting and on-site search and rescue.)

Of course, Taiwan has also rescued mainland fishing vessels. On November 15, 2025, the mainland fishing vessel Min-Dong Yu 61227, sailing about 28 nautical miles northwest of Taipei Port, suddenly emitted thick smoke and caught fire. The 15 crew members urgently called for help via international radio channels. At the time, the Coast Guard Administration's Hsinchu vessel responded in severe sea conditions with wind force 6–7 and waves nearly 3 meters high.