TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A defense expert has warned that without firm countermeasures against China drilling near Taiwan's Dongsha Island, Taiwan's sovereignty will be gradually eroded.
The Jamestown Foundation revealed Tuesday that China National Offshore Oil Corporation is operating oil rigs and vessels inside Taiwan’s exclusive economic zone, or EEZ, near Dongsha.
Lin Chao-lun (林超倫), an associate research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said this deployment is part of Beijing’s campaign to weaken Taiwan’s sovereignty, per Liberty Times.
The campaign incorporates legal warfare, cognitive warfare, and military-civil fusion strategies. Legally, operations inside Taiwan’s EEZ challenge its jurisdiction and advance China’s territorial claims.
Cognitively, the use of commercial activities to change the status quo without triggering conflict allows gradual normalization of sovereignty erosion. Lin warned the situation will worsen unless Taiwan protests strongly or intervenes.
Lin pointed out that under China’s military-civil fusion strategy, China National Offshore Oil Corporation’s offshore platforms are designed with dual-use capabilities. They can be equipped with surface search radar, electro-optical systems, signals intelligence, and acoustic devices.
These tools enhance surveillance of Dongsha Island and Taiwan’s southwestern maritime zone. If necessary, the platforms could be fitted with weapons systems, leveraging Beijing’s fusion of civilian and military assets.
As countermeasures, Lin urged stronger international coordination with other countries facing Chinese gray-zone tactics. He said joint statements and cooperation are key to countering Beijing’s legal and cognitive warfare.
He also called for better maritime monitoring and intelligence sharing through satellites, patrols, and surveillance. This would document Chinese activities and provide a legal basis under UNCLOS to assert Taiwan’s rights.
China’s presence in Taiwan’s EEZ extends beyond oil and gas exploration. Militia vessels often pose as fishing boats to conduct hydrographic surveys, with coast guard ships providing cover.
Lin said Taiwan must increase naval patrols and monitoring to demonstrate jurisdiction. He emphasized that this should be done carefully to avoid conflict escalation.
