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Epoch Times
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Canada Can Lead the Way in Boosting Support for Taiwan as a Vital Partner and Friend
Commentary In Canada, when we speak of threats posed by foreign adversaries, the term FIMI—Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference—usually comes up, with most reference points drawn from the 2019 and 2021 elections. For Taiwan, however, the threats from China are across the board and can appear in virtual and real spaces every day. In a nutshell, they are far more multi-faceted and all-encompassing. When it comes to the Chinese threat to Taiwan, most Canadians will probably associate it with China's sabre-rattling and military exercises in the Taiwan Strait. Indeed, the number of increasing naval and air force intrusions into areas near Taiwan has greatly increased in the past few years. Meanwhile we have seen a steady rise of air sorties crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait, aiming to change the status quo and to pose greater threats. These military exercises are launched with such frequency and growing intensity that, according to Admiral Samuel Paparo, Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, they are no longer seen as mere exercises but 'rehearsals' for a forced unification. Fortunately, there is growing international pushback against China's military and diplomatic pressures on Taiwan—including from Canada. To begin with, Canada's One-China policy only takes note of China's position on Taiwan but does not recognize it. Over the years, Canada's support has also taken tangible form. The peaceful transits through the Taiwan Strait—such as the HMCS Ottawa's most recent passage on Feb. 16 this year—are powerful signals of deterrence. Last month, when China staged large-scale military drills around Taiwan, Global Affairs Canada took to social media to express deep concern. A few days later, the G7 foreign ministers issued a joint statement calling China's provocative actions a direct risk to global security and prosperity. For all these developments, Taiwan is truly grateful. We know that Canada has many pressing global commitments—especially the ongoing support for Ukraine—and so we do not take its support for us for granted. It is deeply meaningful that Canada continues to voice support for Taiwan in multilateral settings. Related Stories 4/8/2025 4/7/2025 But to ensure all these deterrence efforts are not in vain, we must now look beyond the traditional threats. A new era of confrontation is here—one that leans heavily on grey-zone tactics and hybrid warfare. These are attacks that fall below the threshold of armed conflicts but cause lasting damage to democratic institutions and public trust. I group them into three categories, the so-called 'Three Warfares": lawfare, cognitive warfare, and media warfare. These non-military tactics are an important part of a broader strategy to undermine Taiwan's sovereignty, influence public opinions, and create conditions leading to eventual unification with China. In essence, they aim to exert pressure on Taiwan through a variety of means, targeting both domestic and international audiences. Lawfare, or legal warfare, refers to Beijing's effort to build a legal facade for a potential invasion of Taiwan. China knows that in the modern era, military action requires legal justification. Through tools like the National Security Law and the Anti-Secession Law, China is trying to frame any future invasion of Taiwan as an 'internal matter' exempt from the U.N. Charter's prohibition on the use of force. The single foundation of China's lawfare against Taiwan lies in the distortion of the U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758, which The U.S. Department of State has offered four crucial points These points are gaining traction globally, and as China's lawfare campaign is increasingly exposed, its attempt to legitimize aggression against Taiwan is becoming harder to sustain. Cognitive warfare and media warfare are closely intertwined. One uses the human mind as the battlefield and the other media, including social media. With disinformation, rumours, and fake news, they aim to distort public perception, erode confidence in Taiwan's government, and divide our society. These are not seasonal campaigns—they happen every day. Everyone is a target. In Canada, such tactics are more commonly seen around election cycles, and it is often the Chinese diaspora community that bears the brunt, but with the rise of AI-generated content, China's influence operations can increasingly target the broader Canadian public, and with higher frequency. So, if there's any immediate lesson Taiwan can offer to Canada, it is to stay vigilant. Also, it is important to be aware of the challenges Taiwan faces on the front lines of authoritarian expansionism—militarily, diplomatically, legally, and psychologically. Now, if you wonder China's possible timeline for an invasion, I think war remains their last resort. Despite that the chance of China invading Taiwan has risen dramatically in recent years, China knows an invasion is too risky and it may unleash domestic instability and social unrest. So China still claims that they hope to achieve unification through 'peaceful means.' This is why its campaign of the 'Three Warfares' against Taiwan continues to loom large and remains our grave concern. Geopolitically speaking, Taiwan is situated in a strategically crucial part of the first island chain, and it plays an indispensable role in the global supply chain. We produce 60 percent of the world's semiconductors and 90 percent of its advanced chips. In other words, Taiwan matters to the global economy and security. An invasion of Taiwan would almost certainly provoke U.S. intervention. China understands this and likely seeks to take Taiwan without firing a shot. That's why these non-military threats are so serious. But let me be clear: this is not a reason for complacency. In fact, China's ambitions do not stop at Taiwan. Allowing Taiwan to follow the footsteps of Hong Kong would have serious repercussions for many other countries. Some may think that Taiwan's fate is not Canada's fight, or that there may still be time to worry about it later. But Taiwan is the canary in the coal mine. At a time when authoritarianism is on the rise globally, and even democracies are seeing illiberal trends, the need to build resilience for Taiwan has never been more pressing. So, can the world come together now for Taiwan—before something terrible happens? My answer is: absolutely yes. Canada can help show the way. Standing with Taiwan is more than about the values we share—it's a step that aligns closely with Canada's national interests. The Indo-Pacific Strategy that was unveiled in November 2022 clearly states that. Canada affirms that deepening exchanges with Taiwan across various domains will ensure its greater security and prosperity. Because of this, we can foresee a continuation of all the ongoing efforts. The HMCS Ottawa that sailed through the Taiwan Strait in February marks the sixth such peaceful transit already, since the release of that monumental policy. In closing, my hope is that Canada will go on to be more proactive in helping Taiwan—by trading more with Taiwan, engaging more with Taiwan, learning from Taiwan, and supporting Taiwan as a vital partner and friend. In doing so, Canada will send a powerful message to the world and to China: that Taiwan is not alone, and that democracy is worth standing up for. Ambassador Harry Ho-jen Tseng, Ph.D., is the Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada. Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Fabricated image spurs false claims of China, Canada warships 'close encounter'
"When the Canadian ship Ottawa came to the South China Sea, the Chinese Navy's 052D Changsha and 054A Yuncheng ships were quick to welcome it!" reads a simplified Chinese X post on February 13. The image appears to show two larger ships sandwiching a smaller vessel labelled "Canada's HMCS Ottawa" on the open sea. Text under the image reads sarcastically: "Canada's Ottawa warship was treated with courtesy in the South China Sea. It received a bodyguard escort the whole way, and its captain was dismissed mid-journey." It goes on to suggest China's navy is the strongest in the South China Sea and that it will treat American warships similarly. The image surfaced elsewhere on X, Facebook, and Weibo alongside similar claims about Chinese warships "sandwiching" HMCS Ottawa. The Canadian navy has taken part in recent months in several patrols in the South China Sea with the United States, Australia, the Philippines and Japan to assert freedom of navigation and flights in a strategic waterway claimed almost in whole by Beijing (archived link). Although Canadian broadcaster CTV reported in January that HMCS Ottawa was tracked by various Chinese navy ships in the South China Sea, there are no official reports they surrounded the Canadian vessel. Canadian broadcaster CTV's correspondent Adrian Ghobrial was aboard HMCS Ottawa during its January deployment, and he reported the Chinese warships Yuncheng and Changsha were seen "hovering along the horizon" as the Canadian ship met a US vessel near the contested Scarborough Shoal (archived link). The triangular chain of reefs and rocks in the South China Sea has been a flashpoint between the countries since China seized it from the Philippines in 2012 (archived link). CTV also published footage of the Yuncheng tracking HMCS Ottawa on January 10 (archived link). The video shows the Chinese ship maintaining a relatively long distance from the Canadian ship, contrary to the circulating image. In another report on January 11, CTV said a Chinese warship sent out a radio call to HMCS Ottawa, but the footage also shows the ship keeping a distance (archived link). Moreover, the circulating image shows signs of fabrication as the vessels depicted are inconsistent with genuine photos of the warships. China's Changsha destroyer can be seen in a Xinhua News Agency photo uploaded on AFP's archives, while the Yuncheng can be seen in a stock photo published by British photo agency Alamy (archived links here and here). The genuine photos show different radars at the top of both ships, while the hull identification numbers in the circulating image appear to be gibberish. The shape of the ships' bows also does not match. An AFP photo of HMCS Ottawa shows a much larger vessel with a different structure (archived link). According to the Canadian navy, HMCS Ottawa is a Halifax-class frigate and is 134 metres (440 feet) long, while Chinese media reported the Yuncheng is approximately the same length as the Ottawa and the Changsha is 157 metres (515 feet) long (archived links here, here and here). AFP has debunked a deluge of misinformation over the South China Sea.
Asharq Al-Awsat
17-02-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Taiwan Strait Not China's, Taipei Says after Canadian Warship Passes Through
The Taiwan Strait does not belong to China and any attempts to create tension threaten global security, the island's defense ministry said on Monday, after Beijing criticized Canada for sailing a warship through the sensitive waterway. The US Navy and occasionally ships from allied countries like Canada, Britain and France transit the strait, which they consider an international waterway, around once a month. Taiwan also considers it an international waterway but China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, says the strategic waterway belongs to it. Last week the first US Navy ships transited the strait since President Donald Trump took office last month, drawing an angry reaction from China, which said the mission increased security risks. Taiwan's defense ministry said China had responded to those sailings by carrying out "joint combat readiness patrols." "The Taiwan Strait is absolutely not within the scope of China's sovereignty," the ministry said in a statement. Freedom of navigation by "friendly and allied" countries through the strait are concrete actions that highlight the strait's legal status, and China is trying to create a false appearance that the strait is an "internal issue," it added. "Peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is not only a matter of concern for Taiwan, but also a common concern for free and democratic countries around the world," the ministry said. "Any deliberate attempts by the communist's military to create tension in the Taiwan Strait will pose a real threat to global security," the ministry said. Neither China's defense ministry nor the Taiwan Affairs Office responded to requests for comment. Taiwan has complained of repeated Chinese military activities near the island. Its defense ministry said on Monday morning in its daily update of China's actions over the previous 24 hours that it had detected 41 Chinese military aircraft and nine ships around the island, concentrated in the strait and off Taiwan's southwest. China's military lambasted Canada on Monday for sailing the warship through the strait. Canada's actions "deliberately stirred up trouble" and undermined peace and stability in the strait, the People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theater Command said in a statement. "Theater forces maintain a high level of alert at all times and resolutely counter all threats and provocations," it added. Canada's Department of National Defense said in a statement that the Royal Canadian navy ship HMCS Ottawa recently conducted a transit throughout the Taiwan Strait. "Canada has undertaken a number of transits through the Taiwan Strait to uphold the important principle of operating freely through international waterways in accordance with international law,' the department said. Taiwan's defense ministry said on Sunday that the ship had sailed in a northerly direction, adding that Taiwanese forces also kept watch. Taiwan's foreign ministry welcomed the sailing. "Canada has once again taken concrete actions to defend the freedom, peace and openness of the Taiwan Strait and has demonstrated its firm position that the Taiwan Strait is international waters," it said on Sunday. In October, a US and a Canadian warship sailed together through the strait, less than a week after China conducted a new round of war games around the island. Taiwan's democratically elected government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only that the island's people can decide their future.
Saba Yemen
17-02-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Canadian frigate's transit through Taiwan Strait "violation of peace"
Beijing - Saba: The Chinese army considered the transit of the Canadian frigate HMCS Ottawa through the Taiwan Strait to undermine peace and stability in the region. This came according to a statement published by the official account of the Eastern Region Operations Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army on the "WeChat" application today, Monday. The spokesman for the Eastern Region Operations Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Li Shi, said: "The Canadian side's statements distort legal principles and are misleading, and its actions deliberately create chaos and unrest and undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait." He added that "the forces of the operations area are in a state of constant combat readiness and resolutely resist all threats and provocations." The situation around Taiwan had become significantly more tense after the visit of former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in early August 2022, which was condemned by China, which considers the island one of its provinces, and considered that visit as American support for Taiwanese separatism. Official relations between the Chinese central government and Taiwan were severed in 1949 after the Kuomintang forces led by Chiang Kai-shek, who had been defeated in a civil war with the Chinese Communist Party, moved to Taiwan. Commercial and unofficial contacts between the island and mainland China resumed in the late 1980s. Since the early 1990s, the two sides have been in contact through non-governmental organizations such as the Beijing Association for the Promotion of Relations Across the Taiwan Straits and the Straits Exchange Foundation in Taipei.
Al Jazeera
17-02-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Taiwan detects 24 Chinese military aircrafts near island
Taiwan has detected 24 Chinese military aircraft near the island as a Canadian warship passed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence says. The Chinese aircraft included fighter jets and drones and were spotted on Sunday carrying out 'joint combat readiness patrols' with military vessels around Taiwan, the ministry said in a statement. China's military radioed the Canadian frigate transiting through the Taiwan Strait and warned it to change course, Taiwan media reported. The Halifax-class frigate HMCS Ottawa was the first Canadian naval vessel to transit the waterway this year, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Its transit came days after two United States ships, a naval destroyer and survey ship, made the passage. The US and its allies regularly pass through the 180km (112-mile) Taiwan Strait to reinforce its status as an international waterway, angering China. The US destroyer and ocean survey ship travelled through the strait starting on Monday, drawing criticism from China's military, which said it sent the 'wrong signal and increased security risks'. Data published by the Taiwan Defence Ministry showed 62 Chinese military aircraft were detected near the island in the 48 hours until 6am on Wednesday (22:00 GMT on Tuesday), coinciding with the US ships' transit. Washington's latest passage through the Taiwan Strait was the first time since US President Donald Trump took office in January. It came after Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said they 'opposed any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo [in the Taiwan Strait] by force or coercion'. 'Cross-strait differences' to be resolved peacefully The US, like most countries, has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan but is its strongest international backer and provides military aid to the island to help it maintain its defence capabilities. While Trump has unnerved Taiwan since taking office with criticism of Taiwan's dominance in making semiconductors, his administration has also offered strong words of support. Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's claims of sovereignty over the island and says only Taiwan's people can decide their future. Taiwan says it is an independent country called the Republic of China. Beijing describes Taiwan as its 'core of core interests', regularly denouncing any show of support for Taipei from Washington. On Thursday, the US Department of State removed a statement on its website that said it does not support Taiwan's independence. A reference was also added to the webpage about Taiwan's cooperation with a Pentagon technology and semiconductor development project, and it says the US will support Taiwan's membership in international organisations 'where applicable'. 'We oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo from either side,' the updated State Department site reads. 'We expect cross-Strait differences to be resolved by peaceful means, free from coercion, in a manner acceptable to the people on both sides of the [Taiwan] Strait.' Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung 'welcomed the support and positive stance on US-Taiwan relations demonstrated in the relevant content' of the website, his ministry said in a statement on Sunday. The changes in language were first reported by Taiwan's official Central News Agency on Sunday. The wording on Taiwan independence was also removed in 2022 before being restored a month later.
