TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Deputy Defense Minister Po Hung-hui (柏鴻輝) led a delegation to Dongsha on Thursday.
Po said that despite being an outlying island, Dongsha plays a critical role in national security and regional stability, Military News Agency reported. He praised the troops stationed there for protecting the nation and urged all service members to keep honing their professional skills to maintain combat readiness.
Po and his delegation toured living quarters, Tung Kuang Hospital, and other facilities to observe soldiers’ daily work and living conditions. He noted that long-term deployments demand perseverance in a harsh environment with limited resources, and said he respected the service members’ dedication and sense of responsibility.
Po’s visit comes amid intensifying Chinese gray zone tactics in waters around Taiwan — including incursions by Chinese fishing and coast guard vessels — and renewed attention on Chinese oil rigs near Dongsha. Last week, the Jamestown Foundation published a report highlighting risks from rigs deployed close to the island’s restricted waters.
The Presidential Office condemned China’s actions, saying they undermine the global order and threaten regional stability. “As a regional actor, China should provide a clear explanation for its actions and immediately cease illegal installations and extraction activities in the economic waters of Taiwan and other countries in the region,” Presidential Office Spokesperson Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) said.
