Chinese threat in South China Sea increasing rapidly: Taiwan Foreign Minister Wu

Taipei: The Chinese threat in the South China Sea is increasing significantly as China has deployed a large number of armed maritime militias in the region besides an array of warships and other military assets, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu has said, calling for united efforts by all stakeholders to deal with the challenge.

Wu also cited China's growing military activities in the Indian Ocean region, including its attempt to control key ports in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Djibouti and hoped that New Delhi is paying "close attention" to it.

In an interaction with an international media group, the Taiwanese foreign minister said the countries having stakes in the South China Sea must join hands in combating the challenge emanating from China's rising military muscle-flexing in the region and that Taiwan is ready to share its experience in dealing with the Chinese threat.

Wu was commenting on various issues including regional security challenges, geo-political upheaval following the war in Ukraine, and the Chinese military threats in the Taiwan Straits. "India is also facing a threat in its northern borders with China.

 It is not only the military threat coming from the North, but it is also the Indian Ocean that India might face some challenges," Wu said.

The Taiwanese foreign minister said the time has come for democratic countries to join hands to face the common challenges from China, including sharing resources with each other.

"China is trying to secure ports along the Indian Ocean – in Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and all the way to Djibouti.

The lessons that we learnt from Port Hambantota in Sri Lanka are significant to us. China caused bankruptcy in Sri Lanka, and it does not care about the financial situation in these countries. It is repeating the same model in Myanmar and some other countries. (PTI)