Taiwan's Lai Calls China 'Greatest Threat' Amid Japan-Philippines Maritime Talks

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On June 18 in Taipei, President Lai Ching-te held a press conference addressing increased activity by Chinese government vessels in waters east of Taiwan. Beijing has justified the operations by citing Japan-Philippines maritime delimitation negotiations as a pretext.

Lai stated: "The only and greatest risk and threat to neighboring countries is China, which arbitrarily enters the exclusive economic zones [of Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines] under the pretext of law enforcement, while in reality pursuing expansion."

Addressing Opposition Criticism

Regarding the Japan–Philippines maritime delimitation talks, opposition parties in Taiwan have criticized the Lai administration as "soft," expressing concerns that Taiwan's sovereignty and interests could be harmed.

In response, Lai argued that under the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, negotiations between Japan and the Philippines would not affect third-party rights.

China's Maritime Operations

After Japan and the Philippines agreed at a May 28 summit to begin maritime delimitation negotiations, China reacted strongly, claiming that its own EEZ and continental shelf in waters east of Taiwan would be affected.

Since June, it has carried out so-called "special maritime traffic law enforcement and survey operations" using maritime authority vessels, as well as "law enforcement patrols" by coast guard ships in the area.

Lai said that under international law, China is not a coastal state in the region and has no basis for its claims, calling on the international community to take joint action against what he described as a "serious and imminent threat."

He also urged Indo-Pacific countries facing Chinese gray-zone operations and cognitive warfare to cooperate more closely, arguing that "collective defense and burden-sharing" would strengthen deterrence.