Taiwan Strait tensions make de-risking vital: Experts

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Amid growing tensions in the Taiwan Strait, international experts and politicians gathered at the KAS Australia and the Pacific Security Conference 2024 in Canberra, Australia, on Oct. 28 to discuss Asia's increasingly complex geopolitical landscape. Among other highlights, the event emphasized the critical need for supporting Taiwan's position against China's increasing influence and building strategic partnerships and economic de-risking strategies to counter Beijing's expanding regional aspirations.
 
Supporting Taiwan in a Challenging Geopolitical Climate

Jennifer Parker, an expert associate at Australia's National Security College, emphasized the urgency of backing Taiwan amid China's recent military exercises. "Supporting Taiwan's position is important now within, obviously, each country's established policy," Parker said. "We certainly don't think it is acceptable for comments from China during the recent joint sword exercise, talking about punishment drills and things like that. Those comments are incredibly escalatory."

Tilman Kuban, a member of the German Bundestag from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), echoed these sentiments, pointing to Germany's recent naval presence in the region as a statement of support. "Last month, the German navy ships around showed that we want to be present over there. We see the threats that China is sending to the Strait of Taiwan, and we are standing on your side," Kuban stated.

De-Risking and Strategic Partnerships
As geopolitical tensions rise, the concept of de-risking has gained prominence. Peter Kiely, the founding partner of Kiely Thompson Caisley, explained the significance of diversifying economic ties to avoid dependency on a single market. "The idea of de-risking came from a speech from President (Ursula) von der Leyen," the analyst noted. "Once you have economic dependency, you often get political dependency as well. So just from a commercial perspective, I think it's wise to have many markets, not just one."

The conference further underscored the rapid transformation of the Asian geopolitical landscape, with China's regional aspirations potentially reshaping alliances. However, experts caution that security strategies in the Indo-Pacific must be carefully adapted to the region's unique dynamics. Parker remarked, "In terms of the concept of a NATO in the Indo-Pacific or some sort of alliance structure, I think we do need to recognize that the Indo-Pacific and specifically North Asia, East Asia and Southeast Asia, is a very different dynamic from Europe."

Looking Forward
The discussions at the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) conference come at a time when Taiwan is increasingly under pressure from China's assertive policies. As nations navigate this complex geopolitical environment, the emphasis on de-risking and strategic partnerships is likely to remain a focal point in international dialogues.

The experts' insights suggest that while a NATO-style alliance in the Indo-Pacific may not be feasible, there remains a critical need for collaboration and support for Taiwan. As the region continues to evolve, the international community will have to carefully balance economic interests with geopolitical stability to ensure peace and security.