Can Russia's Ukraine invasion prompt China to attack Taiwan?

MCP

International
International Member

Experts believe that Russia's unilateral invasion of Ukraine could embolden China to attack Taiwan, which Beijing lays claims on. How will the West react to a potential Taiwan invasion?

59765199_303.jpg

Wary of China, Taiwan calls for vigilance amid Ukraine escalation

As Russia continues to bomb Ukrainian cities, observers are paying close attention to China's reaction to the conflict.

Parallels are being drawn between Russia's actions in Ukraine and China's claims on Taiwan.

China's official position on the Ukraine conflict remains vague, although Beijing has dismissed comparisons between Taiwan and Ukraine.

On February 23, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said comparisons between Taiwan and Ukraine showed a "lack of the most basic understanding of the history of the Taiwan issue."

"Taiwan is not Ukraine," she said, reiterating that Taiwan is an "inalienable part of China's territory."

Hua accused Taiwanese authorities of making the Ukraine issue a "hot topic."

Irrespective of China's official statements on the Ukraine conflict, Taiwanese authorities are looking at the developments in Ukraine with concern.

Beijing has long claimed sovereignty over the democratic island and has vowed to seize it one day, with force, if necessary.

Similarities and differences between Ukraine and Taiwan

The Taiwanese government has condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine, emphasizing the differences between the situations in Taiwan and Ukraine.

"I want to emphasize that the situation in Ukraine is fundamentally different from the one in the Taiwan Strait," said Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen in a statement on February 25.

"The Taiwan Strait provides a natural barrier, and Taiwan has its own unique geostrategic importance. Our military is committed to defending our homeland and continues to improve its ability to do so, and our global partners are contributing to the security of our region, giving us strong confidence in Taiwan's security," Tsai added.

Some experts say that while China dismissed the comparison between Ukraine and Taiwan, the communist government in Beijing is still analyzing the international community's reaction to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"Beijing will certainly draw lessons that it can use in its strategy toward Taiwan," Bonnie Glaser, director of the Asia Program at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, told DW.

"China will observe the cohesiveness of NATO and other US alliances, and their willingness to incur costs in imposing sanctions on Russia. They will closely follow Russia's hybrid warfare playbook, and how it combines disinformation with cyberattacks to influence the situation on the ground and shape attitudes toward the conflict," she added.

Security analysts are also of the view that China is aware of logistical differences between Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and its possible attack on Taiwan. While the Russian military can cross over into Ukraine, China can't do the same in a potential conflict with Taiwan, according to Chen Fang-Yu, a political science professor at Soochow University in Taiwan.

"China is going to assess where are the opportunities, and what they can take from the Ukraine crisis," Chen told DW.

Lev Nachman, a postdoctoral research fellow at Harvard University's Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies, says that China is trying to balance its act vis-a-vis the Ukraine conflict.

"China wants to give themselves some diplomatic room so that people don't necessarily expect China to behave in the same aggressive way as Russia has, at least in the short term," he told DW.

"If it is China's moment to retake Taiwan, they wouldn't act the same way as Russia," he added.

How will the West respond to potential China attack?

Experts say that the West's response to a potential conflict between China and Taiwan would likely be different from how they have responded to the war in Ukraine. So far, Western countries have been imposing economic sanctions on Moscow and are supplying military equipment as their way of supporting Ukraine.

Nachman says the US' responses will be different to China's potential aggression against Taiwan.

"The US would likely intervene if Taiwan is attacked by China," he said. "If Taiwan is overly provocative, which is highly unlikely, then the odds of the US military support would decrease. Taiwan does not necessarily have a blank check to assume that it can do whatever it wants and the US would defend it," he underlined.

Analyst Glaser says that the US would likely intervene militarily if China attacks Taiwan unprovoked.

While the US has long upheld the concept of "strategic ambiguity" vis-a-vis Taipei, Chen believes there are signs that Washington's policies towards Taiwan are becoming more straightforward by the day.

"Since Biden took office, the US government has been highlighting the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait in many diplomatic statements that it has issued with allies," he told DW.

"This shows that Washington cares a lot about the situation across the Taiwan Strait. On the contrary, the US never made similar statements about Ukraine, and still maintains that it would not send troops to Ukraine," he added.

In her public statement on Friday, Taiwanese President Tsai said that Taipei continued to strengthen its civil defense and ability to counter cognitive warfare, which could prevent external forces from using the situation in Ukraine to manufacture and spread disinformation that aims to undermine morale among the Taiwanese people.
 

COINTELPRO

Transnational Member
Registered
China needs oil and they need access to international agriculture markets versus Russia.
 
Last edited:

MCP

International
International Member
China needs oil and they need access to international agriculture markets versus Russia.

With the sanctions, Russia will become super insulated economically, I have alot of experience being blacklisted, it does not take much money to survive. If I wasn't, I would have an expensive EV, house, and other nonsense that will end up in a landfill.

Yandex will explode in the country and reduce Google/Apple role in information dissemination, a major national security concern.

orig


With the ruble tanking, these tech companies are pulling out because they get paid in this currency than turn them into dollars. They did some PR claiming it was due to Russia invasion rather than raising prices and not selling any products. To compensate they would have to raise prices significantly, making their products unaffordable. A Russian company can just take Rubles and chill out.

I suspect this was another objective of Putin to rid his country of these companies just like China that did it covertly. Edward Snowden getting asylum and him building a Russian made car instead of buying a Maybach are definite clues. He was also showcasing some Yota phone that did not sell, it will now after prices of foreign product jump up.

Why are you hijacking this thread. Start your own thread if you wish to discuss instead of posting irrelevant posts.
 

COINTELPRO

Transnational Member
Registered
I posted that China needs food and oil; versus Russia making an attack on Taiwan unlikely. How is that irrelevant?

Than I posted that Russia will benefit from the sanctions as evidenced by the companies pulling out. Apple was getting $900 per Iphone in rubles, now they are only getting $500 or less. I can pull that part out of the post.

I am not allowed to start threads per HNIC, that is why I post comments.
 
Last edited:

keepclear

wannabe star
Registered
I think China wont do that right now.
Maybe later or dmth... By the way if there will be attack - smart people should leave taiwan in some direction with their knowledges money and equipment - this part is important for china

Live in Russia.
And now im in Bulgaria because im AFFRAID of russian government.
Now i dont know what to do because visa and mastercard blocked SWIFT for russian cards and have no money even for a rent home to me and child.
Think i slould create new mail and paypal account while sitting in other country.

damn 2022...
 

QueEx

Rising Star
Super Moderator
What Do the Chinese Think of Russia? | Street Interview


I don’t know whether the views expressed in the video are natural or staged, but it was interesting as hell to see and hear the comments and views. We hear a lot about freedom of expression and government suppression - all of it most likely to some degree true and false. This piece could be government propaganda or a reflection of free expression. It’s why I asked the question, how much information does the people Russia, China or the U.S, for that matter - get to know of the events going on around them every day.

Thanks for this piece. 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ !!!

.
 

MCP

International
International Member
.

_125360911_taiwanmilreut2019.jpg

The US criticises China for increased military activity in the area

China has warned the US that any attempt to make Taiwan independent from China will trigger military action by Beijing's forces.

Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe met his US counterpart Lloyd Austin on the sidelines of an Asian security summit in Singapore.
Splitting Taiwan from China would leave the Chinese military with no choice but to "fight at any cost", Mr Wei said.
Mr Austin later called Chinese military activity "provocative, destabilising".

He said there were record numbers of Chinese aircraft flying near the island on a near-daily basis, which "undermine peace and stability in the region".
China views self-ruled Taiwan as an integral part of China's territory, a stance that prompted Mr Wei to condemn US arms sales to Taiwan.
A spokesman quoted him as saying: "If anyone dares to split Taiwan from China, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) will have no choice but fight at any cost and crush any attempt of 'Taiwan independence' and safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Mr Austin said the US was committed to maintaining the status quo - recognising Beijing as the sole government of China and opposing Taiwanese independence.

He insisted there must be no attempt to resolve tensions through force.

_125361090_uschinameetepa10jun22.jpg

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin (left) had his first face-to-face meeting with China's Wei Fenghe

It was the first meeting of the US and Chinese defence chiefs and lasted nearly an hour, at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit.
Mr Wei said the talks "went smoothly", and both sides described them as cordial.

Mr Austin spoke of the importance of maintaining fully open lines of communications with China's military, to avoid any misunderstanding.
In late May Taiwan said it had deployed fighter jets to warn off 30 warplanes sent by China into its air defence zone. The incident marked the biggest Chinese incursion since January.

The incident involved 22 Taiwanese fighters, as well as electronic warfare, early warning and anti-submarine aircraft, Taiwan's defence ministry said.

China and Taiwan: The basics
  • Why do China and Taiwan have poor relations? China and Taiwan were divided during a civil war in the 1940s, but Beijing insists the island will be reclaimed at some point, by force if necessary
  • How is Taiwan governed? The island has its own constitution, democratically elected leaders, and about 300,000 active troops in its armed forces
  • Who recognises Taiwan? Only a few countries recognise Taiwan. Most recognise the Chinese government in Beijing instead. The US has no official ties with Taiwan but does have a law which requires it to provide the island with the means to defend itself.
China and Taiwan: A really simple guide
 

MCP

International
International Member
China sends 30 warplanes into Taiwan air defence zone

_124980401_gettyimages-1235226873-1.jpg

Taiwan said China had sent J-11 fighter jets (file photo from August)

Taiwan says it deployed fighter jets to warn off 30 warplanes sent by China into its air defence zone.

The incident on Monday marked the biggest incursion since January.
It came days after US President Joe Biden warned China against invading Taiwan, and on the same day as a US official visited the island to discuss security with leaders.

China has ratcheted up the frequency of its air missions in recent months, claiming they are training drills.
Such moves have angered Taiwan and increased tensions in the region.
China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province, which it can take by force if necessary.
The latest incident included 22 fighters, as well as electronic warfare, early warning and antisubmarine aircraft, Taiwan's defence ministry said.
The aircraft flew in an area to the northeast of the Pratas Islands that is part of the Taiwan's air defence identification zone (ADIZ), according to a map the ministry provided.

But the planes did not cross over into Taiwan's airspace itself, which would have been regarded as an act of hostility.
An ADIZ is an area outside of a country's territory and national airspace but where foreign aircraft are still identified, monitored, and controlled in the interest of national security. It is self-declared and technically remains international airspace.

Taiwan has been reporting for more than a year that Chinese aircraft have been flying into its ADIZ, calling it "grey zone" warfare aimed at testing their military response and wearing them out.

Analysts have previously said the incursions were a warning against Taiwan's government from moving towards a formal declaration of independence.
Beijing has said in the past that the exercises were geared to protect its sovereignty.

_124886160_taiwan_23_05_22_v3-nc.png


Mr Biden had referenced the air incursions during his visit to Asia that concluded last week - his first visit to the region as president.
He said China was "already flirting with danger right now by flying so close" to Taiwan, and issued his strongest warning to China yet, saying the US would be willing to respond military if Beijing were to invade the island.

His words appeared to mark a shift from the US' longstanding policy of "strategic ambiguity" on Taiwan, which allowed the US to remain deliberately vague about its response in such a situation.

China's military said last week it had recently conducted an exercise around Taiwan as a "solemn warning" against its "collusion" with the United States.

Monday's incursion took place as US senator Tammy Duckworth arrived in Taipei on an unannounced visit to discuss matters of regional security and trade with Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen.

China and Taiwan: The basics
  • Why do China and Taiwan have poor relations? China and Taiwan were divided during a civil war in the 1940s, but Beijing insists the island will be reclaimed at some point, by force if necessary
  • How is Taiwan governed? The island has its own constitution, democratically elected leaders, and about 300,000 active troops in its armed forces
  • Who recognises Taiwan? Only a few countries recognise Taiwan. Most recognise the Chinese government in Beijing instead. The US has no official ties with Taiwan but does have a law which requires it to provide the island with the means to defend itself.
 

QueEx

Rising Star
Super Moderator
China Warns of Taiwan Demise After Taiwanese Official Claims Missiles Can Hit Beijing

Newsweek
BY JOHN FENG
6/15/22 AT 7:44 AM EDT


The war of words between China and Taiwan continued this week after a senior elected official in Taipei suggested the island could respond to an invasion by launching missiles at Beijing.

The rare hint at potential retaliation didn't come from the government, but rather from Taiwan's parliamentary speaker, You Si-kun, who was one of three Taiwanese officials—along with Foreign Minister Joseph Wu and Premier Su Tseng-chang—to be sanctioned by China late last year.

Speaking at a virtual event on Sunday, You departed from Taipei's usual emphasis on defense to note that Taiwan's domestically produced Yun Feng supersonic cruise missiles could reach Beijing. The secrecy surrounding the island's missile programs means the precise capability of the Yun Feng and its current production volume have never been publicly confirmed, although experts predict a maximum effective range of 1,200 miles—putting the Chinese capital just within reach.

"Taiwan of course would never invade China...nor would Taiwan actively strike Beijing or the Three Gorges Dam," You was quoted as saying. "But before China attacks Taiwan, it must consider Taiwan's existing capacity to strike Beijing . . . China should think twice before invading Taiwan."

China responded through its Taiwan Affairs Office on Wednesday, with spokesperson Ma Xiaoguang offering a relatively tame reply by his standards. In Beijing's vernacular, those refusing the "unification" of Taiwan with the mainland are supporters of "Taiwan independence," a phrase it reserves for the Taiwanese government, but which inevitably lumps in the millions who vote them into power.

"The ravings of stubborn pro-Taiwan independence members like You Si-kun only exposes their frenzied nature," said Ma. "If [they] dare strike a stone with an egg, it will only accelerate [their] demise."
Taiwan produces a range of missiles for anti-ship and anti-air defense, but its offensive capabilities are the subject of regular speculation.

In January, Taiwan's legislature approved an $8.55 billion special budget for the mass production of missiles. There were no references to the Yun Feng in particular, but the five-year funding is to be used on surface-to-surface cruise missiles, among other systems.

Over the years, the island's major platforms such as fighter aircraft and tanks have been purchased chiefly from the United States, which is now taking a more active role in assisting with Taiwan's defense planning.

READ MORE​

Officials in Taipei and Washington have long understood Taiwan can't match China's military spending or its capabilities like for like. Last year, both governments reached a consensus about asymmetric warfighting capabilities for Taiwan—smaller, cheaper, more mobile and more survivable weapons systems that can target vulnerabilities in Beijing's invading force.

These asymmetric arms, which include man-portable rocket launchers like Stingers and Javelins, are being used to great effect in Ukraine's resistance against Russian forces. This has only increased Washington's belief in a doctrine of asymmetric warfare for Taipei.

During his talk over the weekend, Speaker You said the 100-mile-wide Taiwan Strait is a natural barrier that works toward Taiwan's advantage. If Chinese troops do land on Taiwan's beaches, however, it'll be up to every Taiwanese to resist, "just like the Ukrainians," he said.

"[Taiwan] must let China know that even if it crosses the Taiwan Strait and successfully lands, it will still pay a price," he was quoted as saying.


China Warns of Taiwan Demise After Official Claims Missiles Can Hit Beijing (newsweek.com)


.
 

MCP

International
International Member

_126181257_9b91ba6c7f3245479f6cf04b08e93055a2fc9c0e.jpg

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (L) meets Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen

The danger with escalation is that it is hard to pull back.

Now that US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has managed to visit Taiwan - the highest-ranking American official to do so in 25 years - won't others want to do the same in the future?

Now that China has held major live fire exercises of such a scale, so close to Taiwan, why not do that again? Each time Chinese fighter jets fly nearer to the island or in greater numbers, a new standard of "normality" is established. So, if the People's Liberation Army (PLA) doesn't fly as close next time, what message is it sending?
Not so long ago, Beijing's plan with Taiwan involved engagement. Young people from the mainland were backpacking around the breakaway province claimed by China, and businesses from Taiwan were popping up all over China.

However, the approach under Chinese President Xi Jinping has become much more belligerent, with ever more pressure being applied on Taipei.
Those with more militaristic tendencies in the upper echelons of power here must have secretly welcomed the visit by Ms Pelosi. It has provided an ideal excuse to ramp up the war games around Taiwan in preparation for what they see as the inevitable day when it will be seized by force.

The biggest challenge perhaps for regional stability is that everyone's public position on Taiwan is ridiculous. It's like a giant game of pretend which is becoming harder to maintain.

China pretends that Taiwan is currently part of its territory, even though the island collects its own taxes, votes in its own government, issues its own passports and has its own military.

The US pretends it is not treating Taiwan as an independent country, even though it sells it high-tech weapons and, occasionally, a high-ranking politician visits on what looks very much like an official trip.

It's apparent that it would take nothing for this flimsy show, designed to guarantee the status quo, to fall apart.
The danger for the world is that there are those in Beijing who would like to see it fall apart.

_126181306_gettyimages-1390243942.jpg

The approach under Xi Jinping has become much more belligerent

For decades, China's Communist Party-controlled media has been churning out similar rhetoric on Taiwan, but the idea of a war to reclaim it never felt any closer.
That's not the case now.

There is a belief among most people you talk to that President Xi wants to take Taiwan during his time in office, thus catapulting himself into an immortal status - as the leader who unified the motherland.

He has already effectively reined in Hong Kong, a city which had become increasingly troublesome for China, well ahead of schedule.
That President Xi will move into a historic third term in office in a few months actually eases the pressure a little.
Now that he can remain in charge for as long as he likes - unlike previous leaders since Mao Zedong who were limited to two terms - he doesn't have to be in a rush to attack the island.
But every day we move a step closer to that and a step further away from peace.
Some of China's propaganda, designed to rev-up popular support for a military solution, displays pre-World War One levels of naivety about what such a war would really entail.
Even with the heavily censored coverage of the Ukraine conflict, seeing that invasion play out would surely have given Chinese people pause when considering involving their own country in bloody conflict.

But nationalism is a powerful tool and delusion can easily take hold.

If Beijing did attack Taiwan, even with the might of the PLA, it would have to mount a large-scale landing across a treacherous strait - and then face a dug-in, committed enemy fighting for a free way of life, seen as much more important than the patriotic justification to attack which has been drummed into the invading army.
Such a war could be long, turn China into a pariah for an extended period of time and kill the Chinese economy. Even if the PLA won, it would lead to the occupation of a huge island populated by millions of people who would likely resent Beijing's authority.

That would be disastrous and smart minds in the Chinese capital know it.
 

MASTERBAKER

༺ S❤️PER❤️ ᗰOD ༻
Super Moderator

Taiwan recently came under fire after US House Speaker Pelosi visited. The Chinese military and the US forces in the region had a brief showdown that ended up lasting over a week. President Xi and the Peoples Liberation Army is furious.
 

MCP

International
International Member

Taiwan: Two US warships sail through strait

_126469576_navy.png

USS Chancellorsville is part of the operation

Two US warships are passing through the Taiwan Strait, the US Navy has announced.

It is the first such operation to take place since tensions between Taiwan and China increased following a visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan earlier this month.

The US and other Western navies have routinely sailed through the strait in recent years.
China reacted to Ms Pelosi's visit by holding military drills in the area.
On Sunday, Taiwan's defence ministry says it detected 23 Chinese aircraft and eight Chinese ships operating around Taiwan.
Among the detected aircraft, seven crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait - an unofficial barrier between Taiwan and China.
Washington says its two guided-missile cruisers - the USS Antietam and the USS Chancellorsville - are demonstrating freedom of navigation through international waters.

Beijing views such actions as provocative and maintains that the island of Taiwan is an integral part of Chinese territory.
On Sunday, its military said it was monitoring the two vessels' progress, maintaining a high alert, and was ready to defeat any provocation, Reuters news agency reports.
The US Navy said in a statement that the transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrated the "United States' commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific".

"These ships transited through a corridor in the strait that is beyond the territorial sea of any coastal state," the statement added.
Taiwan's defence ministry said the ships were sailing in a southerly direction and that its forces were observing, but that "the situation was as normal".
Taiwan is self-ruled, but China sees it as a breakaway province with which it will eventually unite, with force if necessary.
Taiwan has become yet another flashpoint between Washington and Beijing in recent years, with the US walking a diplomatic tightrope on the issue.
The US abides by the "One China" policy - a cornerstone of the two countries' diplomatic relationship which recognises only one Chinese government - and has formal ties with Beijing and not Taiwan.

But it also maintains a "robust unofficial" relationship with the island. That includes selling weapons for Taiwan to defend itself.

China and Taiwan: The basics
  • Why do China and Taiwan have poor relations? China sees the self-ruled island as a part of its territory and insists it should be unified with the mainland, by force if necessary
  • How is Taiwan governed? The island has its own constitution, democratically elected leaders, and about 300,000 active troops in its armed forces
  • Who recognises Taiwan? Only a few countries recognise Taiwan. Most recognise the Chinese government in Beijing instead. The US has no official ties with Taiwan, but does have a law which requires it to provide the island with the means to defend itself
 

MCP

International
International Member

While Pledging to Defend Taiwan from China, Biden Shifted on Taiwan Independence. Here’s Why That Matters.
Taiwan%20Blog%20Final.JPG.webp

President Biden's comment on Taiwan independence is a break from his predecessors.

On Sunday evening, President Joe Biden made headlines when he asserted in a 60 Minutes interview that the United States would come to Taiwan’s defense if China were to launch an unprovoked attack. His embrace of strategic clarity, however, was not his most notable comment on Taiwan, since this was the fourth time that Biden has articulated such a commitment. Instead, the comment that will raise more alarms in Beijing was Biden’s statement that “Taiwan makes their own judgments about their independence…that’s their decision.” While this comment might seem innocuous, it would mark a significant shift in U.S. policy.

Since the United States severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan (formally the Republic of China) in 1979 and established formal diplomatic ties with the People’s Republic of China, U.S. policy has been to not support Taiwan independence. The State Department’s website currently notes, “we do not support Taiwan independence,” and Secretary of State Antony Blinken used the same language in his major speech outlining the Biden administration’s China policy.

In this regard, the Biden administration’s policy is the same as its predecessors. In the 1982 communique between the United States and China, the Reagan administration stated it had no intention of “pursuing a policy of ‘two Chinas’ or ‘one China, one Taiwan’” (i.e. it would not support Taiwan independence).

In June 1998, President Bill Clinton went further in his “three nos” statement, articulating that the United States did not support two China’s or one China, one Taiwan, Taiwan independence, or Taiwan’s membership in international organizations that required statehood. When Taiwan’s President Chen Shui-bian flirted with a referendum that would change Taiwan’s status, the Bush administration expressed its “opposition” to such a move, with Secretary of State Colin Powell stating, “we do not support an independence movement in Taiwan.” President George W. Bush subsequently publicly rebuked Chen, warning, “We oppose any unilateral decision by either China or Taiwan to change the status quo. And the comments and actions made by the leader of Taiwan indicate that he may be willing to make decisions unilaterally to change the status quo, which we oppose.”

This decades-long, bipartisan non-support for Taiwan independence is rooted in a belief that if Taiwan were to declare independence it would likely prompt China to use force against the island. Beijing made this clear in its 2005 Anti-Secession Law, which states, “In the event that the ‘Taiwan independence’ secessionist forces should act under any name or by any means to cause the fact of Taiwan’s secession from China…the state shall employ non-peaceful means and other necessary measures to protect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.” Most American experts take China at its word, with a recent CSIS survey finding that 77 percent believe China would immediately invade Taiwan if it declared independence.

Indeed, U.S. officials have long believed that Washington needs to be firm in not supporting Taiwan independence in order to deter Taipei from taking actions that could provoke an attack. While many Taiwanese wish for the day when they can pursue de jure independence, they too understand that doing so will likely prompt an attack, which is why support for the status quo among Taiwanese remains strong. According to one long-running survey, more Taiwanese want to maintain the status quo indefinitely (28.6 percent) than any other option, while the second-most popular response is to maintain the status quo and decide at a later date (28.3 percent). Only five percent of respondents want to pursue independence as soon as possible.

Some will argue that President Biden merely misspoke – indeed, after the president’s interview, the White House clarified that U.S. policy had not changed. But officials in Beijing will see this as further evidence that the United States is walking away from its one-China policy. They will view this statement alongside Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s remark that it is “up to Taiwan to decide” whether to declare independence and conclude that there is a coordinated effort underway to shift U.S. policy. They will also note former secretary of state Mike Pompeo’s call for the United States to recognize Taiwan as an independent country and former secretary of defense Mark Esper’s recommendation to ditch the one-China policy and see such changes as enjoying bipartisan support.

If China concludes that the United States is supporting Taiwanese independence, it will respond by ramping up its already heightened pressure campaign against Taiwan. This would likely include sending more military aircraft and warships across the median line in the Taiwan Strait, levying additional sanctions on Taiwanese products, further restricting Taiwan’s participation in international organizations, and stripping away some of its remaining diplomatic partners. Taiwan would find itself less secure as a result.

President Biden’s embrace of strategic clarity is a welcome and overdue adjustment to U.S. policy, but a critical corollary to that shift should be clear messaging that such a commitment would not be operative if Taiwan were to provoke a crisis by unilaterally declaring independence. In addition, moving to strategic clarity can and should be done in a way that is consistent with the U.S. one-China policy. Last and most important, words must be matched with actions if they are to have the intended effect of deterring China and reassuring allies. A good deal remains to be done if stability in the Indo-Pacific is to be maintained.
 

MASTERBAKER

༺ S❤️PER❤️ ᗰOD ༻
Super Moderator
The consequences of a Chinese invasion of the independent country of Taiwan



The Infographics Show




If China decides to invade Taiwan the chances of World War 3 will significantly increase! Don't miss today's epic new video that looks at the consequences of a Chinese invasion of the independent country of Taiwan.
 

MASTERBAKER

༺ S❤️PER❤️ ᗰOD ༻
Super Moderator
See why China's threat to Taiwan is 'huge and immediate'





China now boasts the world's largest navy, with some of the newest and most powerful warships afloat. Chinese leader Xi Jinping has vowed to bring Taiwan, a self-governed island of 24 million people, under Beijing's control - by force if necessary. CNN's Will Ripley reports. #CNN #News
 

MASTERBAKER

༺ S❤️PER❤️ ᗰOD ༻
Super Moderator

How could a war between China and Taiwan play out? | Four Corners
ABC News In-depth

1.21M subscribers


Tensions over Taiwan are the highest they’ve been in nearly three decades. China has warned it will take Taiwan by force if necessary, while US military strategists are now mapping out war games to predict the impacts of a conflict. They forecast it could become a brutal regional war, with casualties and carnage on a scale not seen since WWII. It’s increasingly becoming a question of when – not if – China will launch an assault. Experts say it could be as early as 2025. And Australia would play a key role in the conflict as it spills across the Pacific. The investigation reveals how the US has been quietly building up its military assets in northern Australia, including plans to deploy nuclear capable B-52 bombers south of Darwin. There are now fears that relationship could pull Australia deeper into any future conflict.
 

QueEx

Rising Star
Super Moderator
New US Marine units are taking position on 'key terrain' around Taiwan as tensions rise with China


1675557800127.png
US Marines exit a CH-53E helicopter during Balikatan 22 in northern Luzon in March 2022. US Marine Corps/Sgt.
Melanye Martinez© US Marine Corps/Sgt. Melanye Martinez

  • The US and Japan said in January that a Marine Littoral Regiment will be set up in Japan by 2025.
  • A Marine Littoral Regiment will also hold a major exercise in the northern Philippines this spring.
  • Those moves reflect the US's focus on being able to operate around Pacific in a war with China.
US Marine Corps units designed to fight on remote islands will soon take position close to Taiwan, reflecting preparations by the US and its allies for a potential conflict with China over the island that Beijing claims as part of its territory.

This month, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III announced that a Marine artillery regiment based on the Japanese island of Okinawa would be reorganized as a Marine Littoral Regiment by 2025 and be outfitted with "advanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance" capabilities and anti-ship weaponry that is "relevant to the current and future threat environments."

That unit, the 12th Marine Littoral Regiment, is the second of three Marine Littoral Regiments planned for the Indo-Pacific region, the first of which was activated in March 2022 and is based in Hawaii. Within weeks of its activation, the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment was participating in the US-Philippine military exercise Balikatan.

Members of 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment in Hawaii in August 2022. US Marine Corps/Sgt. Israel Chincio
Members of 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment in Hawaii in August 2022. US Marine Corps/Sgt. Israel Chincio© US Marine
Corps/Sgt. Israel Chincio
The exercise itself, held for the 37th time, "was nothing new," Col. Timothy Brady Jr., the regiment's commander, said at the Modern Day Marine conference in Washington DC in May 2022.


New US Marine units are taking position on 'key terrain' around Taiwan as tensions rise with China (msn.com)

.
 
Top