Countering PRC Maritime Coercion: President Lai Highlights Four Key Strategic Priorities for National Resilience

TAIPEI, June 25 (CNA) — President Lai Ching-te chaired the eighth meeting of the All-Out Defense Resilience Committee, issuing four strategic directives aimed at bolstering Taiwan's national resilience.

Key directives include:
1. Enhancing maritime domain awareness: The National Security Council, Ministry of National Defense, and Ocean Affairs Council must integrate surveillance data to improve early warning capabilities against abnormal activities.
2. Strengthening maritime enforcement: Relevant agencies are tasked with enhancing communication with commercial vessels, increasing patrol capacity, and implementing necessary eviction measures. Efforts will also focus on perfecting route planning, drone surveillance, and security escorts.
3. Securing logistics and critical supplies: Government agencies must ensure smooth port operations and cargo handling. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and other departments are directed to inventory energy and essential supplies, prioritize demand, and streamline customs processes to maintain critical infrastructure security.
4. Improving crisis communication: Ministries are urged to unify strategic communication to ensure transparent and consistent information dissemination, preventing potential social anxiety.

President Lai emphasized that national resilience is a collective effort involving government, industry, and local communities. He noted that the day's tabletop exercise focused on 'gray-zone intrusions' and 'high-intensity maritime coercion,' stressing that security extends beyond military and coast guard frontlines to every port and infrastructure site.