As China continues to employ ambiguous “gray zone” tactics that blur the line between war and peace, experts are calling on Taiwan to adopt a more transparent approach to counter these covert forms of aggression. Drawing lessons from the Philippines’ successful strategy in the South China Sea, experts emphasize that publicizing visual evidence of China’s activities could strengthen Taiwan’s defense posture and rally international support.

During a recent press event held by Forward Alliance, Ray Powell, director of the Sealight project at Stanford University’s Gordian Knot Center, highlighted the effectiveness of transparency in countering these tactics. Powell noted that the Taiwanese government should actively release footage and images of China’s aggressive maneuvers, such as standoffs between Taiwanese and Chinese coast guard ships near the Kinmen Islands. Enoch Wu, founder of Forward Alliance, further emphasized the power of visual documentation in shaping public perception and international response. “Words are important, but images are much more effective,” Wu said, underscoring the need to engage both the domestic population and the international community with compelling visual evidence.

Powell pointed to the Philippines as a model for Taiwan to follow. In 2023, the Philippine government began tasking its coast guard vessels with capturing videos and photos of Chinese maritime harassment, including blockades against Philippine resupply missions to the Second Thomas Shoal. This transparent approach not only garnered widespread international support but also influenced the United States to provide $500 million in defense aid to the Philippines amid ongoing tensions in the South China Sea.

Powell emphasized that Taiwan could achieve similar results by increasing its transparency efforts. Currently, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry largely relies on flight maps and press releases to inform the public about Chinese warplane incursions. However, experts argue that more robust visual documentation—such as videos and images of Chinese ships and aircraft engaging in unsafe maneuvers—could significantly bolster public support for defense spending and increase international pressure on Beijing. “People need to see how Chinese coast guards are forcibly boarding sovereign countries’ civilian vessels. Our public needs to see that, and the world needs to see that,” Wu said, advocating for a strategy that counter China’s actions across all domains, including cyber operations.

Wu stressed that in facing China’s deliberate gray zone actions, whether in Taiwan or the Philippines, it is important to avoid direct confrontation that could escalate tensions while still protecting sovereignty. Both speakers believe in the importance of leveraging the democratic advantage of transparency, allowing the world to see China’s unjust actions in areas like the South China Sea and Kinmen. By exposing China’s illegal and threatening actions, Taiwan could increase public awareness and support for its defense initiatives, while also drawing the attention of the international community. This strategy has the potential to pressure China by highlighting its aggressive tactics on the global stage, deterring further escalation. However, Powell also cautioned that Taiwan must balance transparency with the risk of overwhelming the population with constant alerts. Given the experience in January, when a false emergency alert about a Chinese satellite launch mistakenly warned of an attack, causing confusion and panic, it is crucial to carefully determine which information should be widely broadcast and which should be reserved for press releases.

Ultimately, according to Powell, the only factor that would deter China from invading is the fear of being unsuccessful. The event concluded that by energizing the population, Taiwan can foster a willingness to support an increased military budget and participation in military training. This collective effort would build the natural resilience necessary to prevent an invasion, as a strong and prepared society is the most effective deterrent against potential aggressors like China.