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Strategic Vision vol. 8, no. 41 (April, 2019)
Disaster Diplomacy Maritime non-traditional security issues present opportunities for Taiwan Lai Hui-chen
T
aiwan and China have a longstanding sovereignty dispute under the one China principle asserted by People’s Republic of China (PRC), which limits Taiwan’s international space in several ways. Undeniably, China is a highly modernized military power that has enjoyed an economic boom in the past few decades, and it has risen up as an influential power in the international community. Therefore, China has fought a very aggressive diplomatic and economic war against Taiwan developing diplomatic and international links across a wide range of areas that have challenged the national security and
interests of the Republic of China (ROC). The end of Cold war had led to brand new security issues where the concept of national security is no longer confined to political as well as military-related subjects. New types of security threats have emerged as major concerns for governments. These include non-traditional security issues such as cyber warfare, piracy, terrorism, and environmental security. The number of recorded incidents of natural hazards around the world have increased tremendously in the past few decades. Due to the region’s geography and vulnerability to disasters, the Asia Pacific
photo: Justin Schoenberger Hospital ship USNS Mercy departs San Diego to participate in Pacific Partnership 2018, to work partner nations to enhance HADR interoperability.
Lieutenant Commander Lai Hui-chen is an ROC Naval officer who is currently posted to the National Defense University as a personnel officer and an adjunct military English teacher. He can be reached for comment at laihuichen@gmail.com