Post by : Shakul

Taiwan has announced plans to strengthen defenses on the Pratas Islands amid rising pressure from China in the region. The move comes as Chinese maritime activity around the islands has increased significantly over the past year.

According to Kuan Bi-ling, China has been expanding its “gray zone” operations — non-combat activities such as coast guard patrols designed to assert control and apply pressure without direct conflict. These activities have increasingly extended to the Pratas area.

The islands, located more than 400 kilometers from Taiwan, are considered strategically vulnerable due to their distance and limited defenses. Currently, responsibility for security lies primarily with Taiwan’s coast guard rather than its military forces.

Taiwan has already taken steps to improve infrastructure on the islands, including upgrading port facilities and planning to deploy vessels with enhanced operational capabilities. Officials also indicated that further development of a comprehensive island defense system is underway, although details remain undisclosed.

Tensions have escalated following recent incidents, including a Chinese reconnaissance drone flying over the islands earlier this year. Taiwan described the move as provocative, highlighting growing concerns over Beijing’s intentions in the region.

Officials believe that control of the Pratas Islands would hold significant strategic value for China, given their location at the northern edge of the South China Sea. This has prompted Taiwan to accelerate efforts to strengthen both peacetime readiness and wartime response capabilities.

Taiwan also noted that its coast guard vessels could be integrated into military operations if necessary, including newer ships such as the Anping-class corvettes, which are capable of being equipped with advanced weapon systems.

#world news #Asia News #Defence #GeoPolitics