TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — China’s threats against the global democratic community are increasing in methods and intensity, DPP lawmaker Puma Shen said at a Hague conference on Saturday.

Shen pointed to China’s recent attitude toward Japan as a sign that it has escalated its wolf-warrior diplomacy, CNA reported. Beyond diplomacy, China is becoming more militarily and economically aggressive, he said, adding that democratic countries must form alliances and understand China’s strategies.

Shen said he has been engaged in parliamentary diplomacy activities for two consecutive months. “China is trying hard to stop me from conducting such diplomacy, which is why it wants to punish me and prevent me from traveling abroad,” he said.

Shen called China “a paper tiger” and said its actions are propaganda. He said Taiwan should not feel intimidated and hoped Taiwanese understood that “China’s legal warfare and public opinion warfare are actually ineffective against us.”

The lawmaker believed that transnational cooperation is still insufficient. While the international community’s understanding of Taiwan has reached a certain level, there is still considerable uncertainty about how to help Taiwan or how Taiwan’s experience can help other countries, he said.

He emphasized that diplomatic forums are becoming increasingly important. They allow the international community to send pro-Taiwan messages to China, and they help shape how substantive diplomatic cooperation should be conducted, he said.

Shen said that parliamentary diplomacy can accelerate cooperation and provide practical support to Taiwan’s diplomatic efforts.