Kathmandu, February 11. China is carrying out a new type of “Psychological War” against Taiwan through deploying “sand dredging” operations in the territory claimed by Taiwan.

Dredging is the act of removing silt and other material from the bottom of bodies of water. It is usually performed to clean the water bodies, but can also reshape the geographical terrain. 

In order to repel the Chinese ships, Taiwan Civilian-run Coast Guard Administration is conducting 24-hour continuous patrols in the area. One of the coast guards, Lin Chie-ming noted, “They think this area is part of China’s territory. They usually leave after we drive them away, but they come back again after we go away.”

Over the past few years, the dredging activities by the Chinese ships have exponentially increased. These operations not only destroy the underground cables and geography but also are dangerous to marine life. Experts term these forms of actions a “grey-zone campaign” in which attacker destroys the resources of the counterparty without engaging in an open war. 

China has been constantly engaging in a psychological war with Taiwan. Earlier last month, Taiwan reported 19 Chinese fighter jets and bombers breaching its Southwest Air Defense Identification Zone. 

Shortly after the Chinese civil war in 1949, the island of Taiwan got its own separate government. Although Taiwan sees itself as a sovereign state, China sees it as a breakaway province of the Republic of China. Beijing now believes that Taiwan is seeking formal independence. President of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen has repeatedly said that Taiwan is already an independent state and it does not require any formal declaration.

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