Analysis of Taiwan’s Strategy against China’s Grey Zone Activities in the South China Sea

Abstract

The Taiwan–China competition in the grey zone area of the South China Sea is an extension of the confrontation between the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the Taiwan Strait. Diplomatic isolation, geographic constraint and inadequacy in deterrent credibility represent the major challenges for Taiwan against China’s expansionism in the region. This article examines Taiwan’s evolving positions in the South China Sea and explores Taiwan’s strategy of a point-line-surface defence framework to counter Beijing’s threats of grey zone activities.