On 12-13, Jan 2021, CSIS hold a two-day Taiwan and Indo-Pacific Regional Security Architecture Conference, Joseph Wu, Foreign Minister of Taiwan, had a conversation with Bonnie Glaser, senior adviser for Asia and director of the China Power Project at CSIS, at the least part in this panel.
This conversation covered Taiwan’s positions on the South China Sea (SCS), engaging with international communities, China’s pressure, Indo-Pacific regional security as well as the US’ strategic ambiguity.
Here are simple but significant notes of his presentations. I have edited and captured the content of the speech without changing the original intention, and focused more on the SCS issues, Taiwan and the international community, and strategic ambiguity.
Utilize Itu Aba for Peaceful and Scientific Purposes
(Timeline: 1:21:40) Glaser said that in the SCS, Taiwan is an important player because Taiwan not only occupied the largest island in Spratly Island- Itu Aba/ Taiping Island- and Pratas Island but hold claims on the SCS. Therefore, Glaser asked how Taiwan can contribute to peaceful management in the SCS disputes.
Wu said that the SCS has become a hot spot because of China, China tried to expand its power through its military flights and vessels (which including military vessels, coastguard vessels, and armed fishing boat). Taiwan would utilize Itu Aba for peaceful purposes.
After arbitration, Taiwan has published a statement on the SCS, which mentions all the claims on the SCS should follow the international law, particularly the UNCLOS. Taiwan strengthened the rights of freedom of navigation and freedom of overflights. States should peacefully resolve disputes and Taiwan should be included in multilateral dialogue.
In terms of the utilization of Itu Aba, Wu mentioned that Taiwan has already cooperated with other countries as well as provided research scholarship on scientific research. Besides, “we intent to use Itu Aba as a base for humanitarian needs,” he said, Taiwan would keep playing the role of peacemaker in the SCS.
Seek Opportunities for ASEAN Forum, QUAD, And More Multilateral Dialogues
(Timeline: 1:25:50) Glaser questioned that, countries are involved in several international organizations, and China is almost involved in most communities. Because of China, Taiwan cannot join international organizations or even informal dialogues except for APEC. Does Wu think the informal structure serving the interest of the region well, or is it a better way to organizing security in the region to start fresh, for example, building a new institution or try to be more inclusive?
Taiwan strait is a so-called flashpoint, except for APEC, Taiwan has been excluded from most international organizations, including ASEAN plus, ASEAN regional forum, or even QUAD. Wu stressed that “we need to think about how Taiwan’s interest could be taken into account to consideration in other countries.”
Wu thought ASEAN regional forum could be very important for Taiwan, this forum covers the SCS disputes, and Taiwan can contribute to the regional peace and stability in the SCS.
Wu also strengthened that another way to look into regional security is to identify the source of instability and threat. Obviously, it is China. China is continually expanding not only in the SCS but also in the East China Sea (ECS), besides, PLA aircraft recently circle around Taiwan and try to intensify to thread Taiwan. “We need to think about something more formal and more securing rather than just discuss some regional issues,” Wu said, in that sense, the QUAD is very important for us to think about.
QUAD is composed of foreign ministers or secretary of state from India, Japan, Australia, and the United State, they meet each other to discuss security issues in regions. Taiwan’s roles in the SCS, ECS, and Taiwan Strait shall be included in QUAD in any form.
“I know it’s hard for Taiwan to a play formal role in QUAD, but we can do bilaterally,” Wu said, for example, if the US, Japan could identify Taiwan’s role in the Taiwan Strait area, and that the Indo-Pacific can benefit from Taiwan’s strength, perhaps Taiwan can join the unofficial discussing after official meetings in QUAD.
“If you look at Hong Kong, that is the situation democracy should not tolerate.” Wu took Hong Kong’s circumstance as an example, he strengthened that countries need to identify the instability in this region as well as should joint efforts, and he assured that Taiwan is able and willing to participate in any of those discussions to make sure security and prosperity.
Covid-19 Pushes Taiwan into the World Stages
(Timeline: 1:32:15) Glaser inquired that during the pandemic, how can Taiwan capture the very precious opportunity to let the world know more about Taiwan?
There are almost 3,500 news reports on Taiwan’s abilities to deal with the Covid-19, which also lead many international leaders to support Taiwan to take part in World Health Organization (including Sec. Pompeo, prime minister in Canada, New Zealand, Australia…, etc) Wu said, “we can not only make contributions but also share our experience.”
So far, Taiwan has hold 18 video conferences to help others addressing the pandemic. Taiwan’s former Vice President of Taiwan Chen Jian-Ren is a public health expert, and Audrey Yang specializes in IT. They are very happy to share Taiwan’s epidemic prevention experience. Wu said, “Taiwan have good personal protective equipment (PPE) and can so free donation instead of charging an expansive way.”
“Excluding Taiwan from international organizations such as WHO is not fair for Taiwanese, and also it is not fair for the international community.” After understanding of Taiwan’s capabilities, Wu said he hopes the international community can provide more support for Taiwan to participate in international organizations.
Pressure from China Would Not Be Less
(Timeline: 1:37:25) Glaser asked Wu that does he see the potential that China being more flexible to pressure Taiwan in or after this pandemic?
“What I see is that Beijing is less flexible,” Wu answered, whenever Taiwan and China meet at international conferences, China always want to squeeze the Taiwan-China relation. He also mentioned that the last October, there are Indian reports talked about Taiwan’s national day, then China called India to follow One China Policy, which means that reports cannot call Tsai the President of Taiwan, nor can mention Taiwan National Day.
In Jan 2019, President Xi reiterated the proposition on Taiwan as the principle of guiding Taiwan, we can see China is getting little flexible to Taiwan. But fortunately, more and more countries see Taiwan deserve a place and voice in the international community. “China’s heavy hand way in dealing with Taiwan is not going to work,” Wu said.
Strategic Ambiguity or Clearly?
(Timeline: 1:40:50) Glaser least proposed the question on ambiguity strategy. She explained the US did not clearly say it would defend Taiwan if war attacks. Some people now are arguing the strategic ambiguity is outdating and should instead of strategic clarity. The supporter thinks that probably would stringing determine to make China lunch attack to Taiwan, the opponent said it might be harmful according to 3 reasons. First, it could provoke PLC to attack Taiwan. Second, some people say that would push the administration for independence, even though President Tsai now makes it clear that it is not the policy. Third, the privilege that defends Taiwan regardless of the circumstance would curtail Taiwan for its capability to defend itself.
Wu said we need to look at this issue from the views of Taiwan, China, and regional reaction.
For Taiwan, the Tsai administration has maintained very responsible and moderate policy either dealing with the international community or China. And these policies are recognized and will be continued. “We will also let the succeeder know why Taiwan now has the best relation with allies is because we are responsible and moderate player in the region.”
The Second is the security side. “In the last four years, Taiwan has been made more investment in security, and we understand that defending itself is the priority in our responsibility. We are absolutely determining defend ourself, not only make the investment, increase our budget but try to discuss other allies especially the US.”
“For Taiwan to be a country, Taiwan is not only Taiwan, Taiwan is part of the international community,” Therefore, Wu said, the foreign minister here will continue engaging with worldwide counties. At the same time, many countries might consider the peace and stability in Taiwan strait are very important to their interests, by that time, Wu believed they will pay more attention to the Taiwan strait.
In terms of the international reactions to China’s expansion, one example is that the US has exercised the freedom of navigation operation not just in SCS but also through the Taiwan Strait. Last year, American military ships transited 13 times through the Taiwan Strait.
“The American ships transit the Taiwan Strait or anywhere around Taiwan shows that American’s determine to make assure the presence, and that kind of presence also noted by other countries,” Wu said Taiwan notice that other countries’ warship also did so and “we appreciate that very much.”
Last but not the least, Wu mentioned that Taiwan has been engaged with the US is the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF). GCTF now is an international operation and more and more country who are willing to participate. Taiwan and the US and Japan have co-hosted some workshops, which covering non-traditional security areas such as cybersecurity, law enforcement, media literacy, maritime security, and energy security.
Strategic ambiguity or clarity?
Wu said, ”No matter which side, both ways work in Taiwan’s interest and we appreciate that very much.”
