TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taiwan wanted to provide input to counter the threat posed by China, Ocean Affairs Council (OAC) Minister Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) told the International Conference on Sea Lane Security Friday (June 7).

The Taipei event co-sponsored by the OAC and National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU) focused on raising international awareness of the importance of oceans and ocean transportation, per the Liberty Times. Security experts from eight countries traveled to Taiwan to attend the conference.

The international community had already reached a high level of consensus on the fact that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait were of vital global importance, Kuan said. She added the aim of the conference was to forge a closer partnership in the Indo-Pacific region and counteract China’s threatening behavior.

Kuan saw the event as a positive beginning for a stable regional cooperation platform, having all countries “stand together to make the ocean better.” 

Discussions at the conference focused on finding new methods and technologies to increase the understanding of the oceans. The use of space technology and satellites to monitor and manage sea lane movements also attracted the interest of experts at the event.