Global Security Briefing

Can Taiwan Resist China’s Campaign of Grey Zone Coercion?

Apr 9, 2025

In this insightful discussion, Sze-Fung Lee, a specialist in Chinese hybrid warfare, Philip Shetler-Jones, an expert in Indo-Pacific security, and Jyun-yi Lee, a researcher on non-traditional security, dive into Taiwan's fight against China's grey zone tactics. They explore how Taiwan balances sovereignty without triggering full-scale conflict, examine China's creative coercion strategies, and highlight Taiwan's adaptive responses. The conversation also sheds light on the regional cooperation tactics with neighbors and how lessons from Ukraine may apply.

49:52

Creator website

Episode guests

Jyun-yi Lee

Dr. Philip Shetler-Jones

Sze-Fung Lee

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Taiwan is adapting its strategies to counter China's grey zone tactics by enhancing societal resilience and improving communication against disinformation.

International collaboration among nations facing similar gray zone threats is vital to effectively counter China's aggressive ambitions and uphold global security norms.

Deep dives

Taiwan's Struggles with Grey Zone Tactics

Taiwan is facing increasing challenges from China's grey zone tactics that oscillate between peace and conflict. The term 'grey zone' describes non-traditional forms of aggression that do not constitute outright war but aim to undermine Taiwan's sovereignty through persistent military intimidation, cyberattacks, and political subversion. Reports indicate that these tactics are becoming the new normal for the People's Republic of China (PRC), as they conduct frequent military exercises and intrusions in the Taiwan Strait. In this context, Taiwan's defenses must evolve to address not just military incursions but also information warfare and sabotage efforts that target critical infrastructure such as undersea cables.

Intro

4min

Taiwan's Grey Zone Challenge

8min

Confrontations in Territorial Waters: The Philippines and China's Tactics

2min

Navigating Grey Zone Conflicts

10min

Taiwan's Grey Zone Strategies

21min

Navigating the Complexities of Taiwan's Defense Strategy Against China

6min

As China increases its ‘grey zone’ pressure, can Taiwan defend its sovereignty without sparking open conflict?

In this episode of Global Security Briefing, host Neil Melvin speaks with Dr. Philip Shetler-Jones, RUSI Senior Research Fellow for Indo-Pacific Security, Sze-Fung Lee an independent researcher specialising in Chinese hybrid warfare, and Dr. Jyun-yi Lee, Associate Research Fellow at Taiwan's Institute for National Defense and Security Research to examine how Taiwan is confronting the growing coercive pressure from China, a pressure which falls just below the threshold of war. Drawing on a new RUSI report, they explore what grey zone tactics are, how Taiwan is responding, and what lessons can be shared between Europe and the Indo-Pacific. With rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait, this episode asks: Can grey zone threats be deterred – and how close are we to open conflict?

This episode is brought to you as part of our Indo-Pacific Security Programme, under which our research on the grey zone and lawfare receives sponsorship from the Taipei Relations Office in London.

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts

Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.

Global Security Briefing

Can Taiwan Resist China’s Campaign of Grey Zone Coercion?

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Taiwan's Struggles with Grey Zone Tactics

Comparisons with Global Security Dynamics

Strategies for Countering Grey Zone Pressure

Challenges of Coordination and Cooperation

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts