By WENDELL MINNICK
TAIPEI — Taiwan serves as a “pivot point” from a geostrategic perspective and a cornerstone for Asia-Pacific regional stability, Taiwan’s Navy chief warned last week.
Adm. Chen Yeong-kang spoke during the 2014 International Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC) Conference sponsored by the Taiwan Navy on Oct. 15.
Moreover, the Taiwan Strait is the “maritime gullet” between Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia, he said. Any “abrupt armed incident or mass military conflict” in the SLOC is possible and would “endanger transport safety.”
Taiwan is attempting to contribute to regional stability by broadening new areas of cooperation, such as the “East China Sea Peace Initiative” put forth by Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou in August 2012.
Conference attendees expressed concern the US might ignore Taiwan’s strategic position and Ma’s initiatives, even as regional powers make opposing chess moves in the South China Sea and East China Sea over rocks, reefs and islets.
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