A: Hey there! Did you catch up on the news lately?
B: Nah, what's new?

A: Well, our President, Lai Ching-te, says China is giving Taiwan a hard time using something called "gray zone" tactics.
B: What does that mean?

A: It's like when they push us around but not quite all the way to war. Anyways, Lai inspected some joint drills in Kaohsiung, where special forces practiced taking back control of a boat if it got seized by terrorists and even rescuing the injured.
B: Wow, sounds intense! What else?

A: Lai says Taiwan's been dealing with these "gray zone" intrusions from China, and he thinks Beijing is making military pressure on us normal.
B: That doesn't sound good...

A: He wants money to build new ships and drones, upgrade monitoring systems, and train our people better. He asked the legislature to support a special budget plan, even though it's controlled by the opposition.
B: Man, that sounds like a lot of work, but I guess we gotta protect ourselves! Thanks for filling me in, buddy!
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Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has accused China of stepping up pressure on Taiwan through so-called "gray zone" tactics. He is calling for strengthened capabilities to respond to such pressure.



Lai inspected joint exercises by Taiwan's coast guard and military in the southern port city of Kaohsiung on Sunday.



Under the scenario that a vessel had been seized by terrorists, special forces simulated boarding and taking back control of the boat. A helicopter drill to rescue the injured was also conducted.



Lai said in a speech that Taiwan has been facing constant "gray zone" intrusion from China. The term refers to operations to pressure Taiwan that stop short of an armed attack.



Lai accused Beijing of normalizing military pressure on Taiwan.



He called for funding to build new vessels and drones, develop monitoring systems, and invest in personnel development. He urged the opposition-controlled legislature to support a special budget proposal across partisan lines.