The 2022 Taipei Security Dialogue convened on Wednesday. The theme of this year’s event is China and the world in crisis.
The event brings together leading scholars and specialists from around the world working in the fields of security and defense. It is organized by the Defense Ministry’s think tank the Institute for National Defense and Security Research.
Speaking at the forum, institute chairman Huoh Shouu-yeh (霍守業) says the war in Ukraine is not only a confrontation between two countries, but a struggle between democracy and authoritarianism. He says the conflict has caused many to notice China’s pressure against Taiwan.
Huoh says Beijing has already pressured Taiwan through various means for over 70 years. He says it is no longer a question of whether China will attack Taiwan, but when.
Huoh points out that Taiwan’s preparations for a potential crisis must be understood as an act of deterrence, and not a provocation. He adds that Taiwan values peace, and seeks to solve cross-strait problems through competition.