US military cites rising risk of Chinese move against Taiwan

[DonViejo]

Source: The Associated Press


By ROBERT BURNS
today

WASHINGTON (AP) — The American military is warning that China is probably accelerating its timetable for capturing control of Taiwan, the island democracy that has been the chief source of tension between Washington and Beijing for decades and is widely seen as the most likely trigger for a potentially catastrophic U.S.-China war.

The worry about Taiwan comes as China wields new strength from years of military buildup. It has become more aggressive with Taiwan and more assertive in sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea. Beijing also has become more confrontational with Washington; senior Chinese officials traded sharp and unusually public barbs with Secretary of State Antony Blinken in talks in Alaska last month.

A military move against Taiwan, however, would be a test of U.S. support for the island that Beijing views as a breakaway province. For the Biden administration, it could present the choice of abandoning a friendly, democratic entity or risking what could become an all-out war over a cause that is not on the radar of most Americans. The United States has long pledged to help Taiwan defend itself, but it has deliberately left unclear how far it would go in response to a Chinese attack.

This accumulation of concerns meshes with the administration’s view that China is a frontline challenge for the United States and that more must be done soon — militarily, diplomatically and by other means — to deter Beijing as it seeks to supplant the United States as the predominant power in Asia. Some American military leaders see Taiwan as potentially the most immediate flashpoint.


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/world-news-beijing-taiwan-china-788c254952dc47de78745b8e2a5c3000

[speak easy]

1. Invading Taiwan would be a huge own goal,

but probably with the confines of international law. By its constitution, the Government in Taiwan, claims to be the legitimate government of the whole of China.

[inwiththenew]

2. Taiwan is a long term goal and they have not abandon those plans yet

They are waiting until they get to a point economically and militarily where they can do it and tell the US and the rest of the world to piss up a rope, like Russia did with eastern Ukraine and Crimea. China will likely pass us economically within the next 10 years. I don't think they are going to be persuaded to stop short of a full blown nuclear war.

[HUAJIAO]

3. If we don't defend Taiwan who will we defend??

I have been there numerous times and have quite a few Taiwanese friends. So I guess I also have a personal interest...

[speak easy]

5. The U.S. can defend sovereign nations but not Taiwan,

which its constitution claims, not only to be part of China, but the legitimate government of all China.

[HUAJIAO]

7. Yes, that is true for. Of course we are already selling them military

equipment and sharing intelligence.... so then the question is where is the line?

Chiang Chieh-shih was a complicated figure, as was Sun Yat Sen.
But then the US is no saint either. Is anyone? Any 'country?'

But Taiwanese people, ESPECIALLY the younger people, for the most part and in spite of those who want to "remain" a part of China, want nothing to do with the mainland Chinese government. They know exactly what will happen if the PRC takes over- disaster...

It's complicated, I know...... in fact I am sure more complicated that I know....

[speak easy]

9. Beijing has been pushing a 'One Country Two Systems' model for Taiwan.

And that is in tatters, after what happened in Hong-Kong. "They know exactly what will happen if the PRC takes over- disaster." Yes. It can be disaster up front with an invasion, or a disaster on death row, with all and sundry waiting for the hangman to pull the cord.

A terrible outcome. With just a little more intelligence, imagination and tolerance, Beijing could have made, 'One Country Two Systems' work, for everyone's benefit, but they blew it - sky high. Xi has to be the most authoritarian Chinese leader since Mao.

[WA-03 Democrat]

4. TSMC the chip foundry in Taiwan

Without it, we lose all new electronics. We need a backup to that. Intel is build a new fab in AZ and will offer silicon as a service. Cannot happen soon enough.

[IbogaProject]

6. The Han Chinese came in an took over from the locals

The Han Chinese came in an took over from the locals, they were the upper class fleeing the revolution, so while they are an ally they don't have clean hands in this.

Formosa

[HUAJIAO]

8. True .. but then who does have clean hands.

But the Han Chinese were there long before that--- 16th 17the century.. The Qing didn't treat the native Taiwanese so well, nor did the Japanese later.