Former Taiwan President Tsai tells US audience of 'sustained' Chinese pressure
EWT•Former Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said China applies sustained pressure on Taiwan through military patrols, cyberattacks, information manipulation and other activities that stop short of open conflict. She warned that a serious disruption in the Taiwan Strait would be felt throughout the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
1. Tsai describes pressure
Speaking at a defense forum at Stanford University, Tsai said Taiwan faces daily cyberattacks, cognitive warfare, information manipulation, economic coercion and attempts to compromise critical infrastructure. She also cited regular Chinese military aircraft and vessels around Taiwan, and increasingly common coast guard and other activity around its waters.
2. Call for cooperation
Tsai said the activities aim to impose costs, test Taiwan's responses and gradually alter the security environment while avoiding open confrontation. She called for strengthening Taiwan's ability to defend itself and said deeper cooperation with Taiwan would support Indo-Pacific stability and the resilience of the wider democratic community.
