Taipei/Canberra/Beijing: Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu has issued a severe warning. ‘China is preparing for a ‘grey zone’ war against Australia. Taiwan has been facing China’s grey zone warfare for the past few years and will soon be using it against Australia,’ Wu said. It is the second time in the last month that Australia has been warned of a ‘grey zone’ war. Last month, Major General Adam Findlay, a senior Australian defence official, said China had already launched a ‘grey zone’ warfare against Australia. 

Continuously engaging in activities to pressurise a rival country with the help of ‘non-state actors’ is called ‘grey zone’ warfare. It is a state between peace and an attack that would lead to conventional war. Over the past few years, China has repeatedly resorted to the ‘grey zone’ war by sending a large number of armed fishing vessels or maritime militia to Taiwan’s territorial waters. 

Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu mentioned this issue with a warning that the next target would be Australia. ‘Hundreds of armed fishing boats are constantly entering Taiwanese waters under the instructions of the Chinese Navy. China’s ‘grey zone operations’ are meant to harass an adversary nation and pressurise them. Australia has not yet experienced it. But China could use it soon,’ Wu stated. In addition, the Taiwanese minister drew attention to the fact that China’s ambitions are not limited to the South China Sea, and China’s maritime militia will be hitting Australia’s borders as well. 

At the time, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Wu also recalled that China had established ties with the Solomon Islands in the Pacific Ocean. This region is close to Australia, and China could use the Solomon Islands for strategic purposes, the Taiwanese foreign minister asserted. Besides, Wu stated that Taiwan has been fighting against China’s repression for many years and called on the world’s democracies to unite against it. 

Relations between Australia and China have soured in recent months over the Taiwan issue. Australia has taken serious cognisance into Chinese activities near Taiwan, with leaders indicating an increased threat of a China-Taiwan war. Last month, Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton warned that one could not deny the possibility of a conflict between China and Taiwan. 

Home Affairs Secretary Michael Pezzullo had warned of a possible China-Taiwan war, saying the ‘drums of war are beating’ nearby. Some Australian officials and leaders have urged Australia to take a stance of helping the US military in the event of a conflict in Taiwan. The matter has unsettled China and its regime is trying to pressurise Australia with threats and warnings. Only a few days ago, the Chinese military warned that Australia’s actions and statements on the Taiwan issue were irresponsible and provocative. In the wake of the events, the Taiwanese minister’s warning about China’s ‘grey zone’ war is striking. 

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