Taiwan VP Hsiao urges global support as Chinese hybrid threats rise

Taipei, June 19 (CNA) Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) called on the international community to support Taiwan as it steps up efforts to counter growing threats from China, during a recent interview with a Norwegian media outlet.

In the interview broadcast by Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) on Wednesday (local time), Hsiao said Taiwan is facing intensifying military action and hybrid threats from China, mentioning in particular "disinformation, psychological warfare, political warfare and economic coercion."

Describing Taiwan's security as critical to the stability of the Indo-Pacific region and key to global economic and technological development, the vice president called for the international community's support for Taiwan's democracy and peace.

"No country is too small to deserve freedom," Hsiao said, adding that Taiwan and Norway could expand cooperation in civil society, particularly in areas such as media literacy and democratic resilience.

Hsiao said Taiwan's government remains committed to maintaining the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, but is striving to strengthen its defense capabilities and enhance societal resilience against a range of security challenges.

One of the challenges to be addressed urgently, she said, is the severing of undersea cables -- a threat not unique to Taiwan but also increasingly seen in Europe.

She said the government must improve the resilience of Taiwan's telecommunications networks while stockpiling essential supplies and enhancing energy security.

"We have to look into more new and emerging technology ... and we need to better leverage some of Taiwan's private-sector capabilities in supporting our society's broader resilience," she said.

"Everything we are doing is to prevent conflict," she said, adding that peace must be achieved through strength.