Taiwan vs. China Watch Thread

[Tryin']

Just to keep the lead-up pieces to WWIII in separate boxes. . .

As Russia-Ukraine war rages, Trump says 'Taiwan is next' for a potential invasion

Former President Trump, during an exclusive interview on "Mornings with Maria," Wednesday, warned that Taiwan may be “next” for a potential invasion, as the Russia-Ukraine conflict may impact China’s rising aggression.

www.foxbusiness.com

https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2022/03/02/pitfalls_in_deterring_a_taiwan_strait_conflict_unpreparable_war_819518.html

 

[DadSmith]

Can Russia's Ukraine invasion prompt China to attack Taiwan? – DW – 02/28/2022

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?

www.dw.com

 

[jsx1043]

This is the next chess piece to move...

 

[jsx1043]

This is the next chess piece to move

 

[printcraft]

This is the next chess piece to move

 

[DadSmith]

AP Exclusive: US admiral says China fully militarized isles

A top U.S. commander says China has fully militarized at least three of several islands it built in the disputed South China Sea and has armed them with anti-ship and anti-aircraft missile systems, laser and jamming equipment, and fighter jets.

apnews.com

 

[Twangbanger]

"Ich bin ein Taiwan'er?"

We got our preview in Ukraine. If you don't turn the entire island of Taiwan into a bristling pin-cushion of Patriot missiles, you may as well hand it over right now. The cost of invasion has to be tremendous, to have any chance at deterrence.

But the people of Taiwan don't exactly help themselves. You can't get a clear majority of them to support a declaration of independence, because they're afraid of losing their trade ties with China. The mainland is their biggest trading partner, and like much of the world, they'd rather be prosperous than free.

It's sorta like a higher-educated version of Afghanistan. You can't worry too much about freeing a people who don't prioritize being free. Hell, many educated Taiwanese business-people probably dream of becoming fabulously rich doing business on the Mainland and putting crowds of uneducated Chinese country rubes and hillbillies to work for them.

China's modus operandi is to sell other nations the rope with which to hang themselves. And from what I can see, Taiwan already made the purchase long ago. I would love to know how many Taiwanese have secured U.S. Citizenship for their children. In college, my girlfriend and best friend both fell into this category. When the "balloon goes up," many will just come here.

 

[DadSmith]

China's defence minister says resolving 'Taiwan question' is national priority

China's defence minister, Wei Fenghe, said on Monday that resolving the "Taiwan question" is his country's "greatest national interest", and that no force could prevent China's "reunification".

www.reuters.com

 

[BigMoose]

"Ich bin ein Taiwan'er?"

We got our preview in Ukraine. If you don't turn the entire island of Taiwan into a bristling pin-cushion of Patriot missiles, you may as well hand it over right now. The cost of invasion has to be tremendous, to have any chance at deterrence.

Steps have been taken.. there are two REALLY big arse US relics Taiwan keeps on the two forward islands.

Two US made 240mm M1 siege howitzers. Any ship that gets near these things are in for a world of hurt..

10 inches of hate and discontent waiting for someone to get too close.

 

[Tryin']

Beijing has given the strongest hint yet that it would reject attempts to categorize a future attack on Taiwan as an "invasion," after a government official suggested the term wouldn't apply to another "part of China."

China Suggests Attack on Taiwan Can't Be Called 'Invasion'

The U.S. has stepped up efforts to help Taiwan bolster its self-defense, but it hasn't publicly committed to come to its defense in the event of a Chinese attack.

www.newsweek.com

 

[Twangbanger]

Steps have been taken.. there are two REALLY big arse US relics Taiwan keeps on the two forward islands.

Two US made 240mm M1 siege howitzers. Any ship that gets near these things are in for a world of hurt..

10 inches of hate and discontent waiting for someone to get too close.

This has been wargamed extensively, and if China tries to do it with ships across the channel, the cost will probably be too great because of things like mines. It would come down to who controls the air bases. But China could probably accomplish much more by simply cutting trade with Taiwan and strangling it financially.

My view is China probably doesn't want the negative PR of a forced occupation, and that's why they've spent the past 25 years amassing a gigantic bucket of financial leverage. I think their strategy is to be so far ahead in the "soft power" game, they won't _need_ the hard power game.

They probably look at what Putin is doing in Ukraine right now, and pity him as a sort of "bad chess player."

 

[ljk]

First thing first, if TW declares independence today, there will be war tomorrow morning. That's the sure fire trigger.

There are few reasons the invasion hasn't happened already since 1949.

There are a whole lot people in TW are ethnically Chinese.

China did not have a sizeable modernized NAVY till 15-20 years ago. Their military was built up for defending the Soviet invasion, heavily on the Army side. They have been downsizing the Army and focus on Navy and AF for the past 30 years.

Follow the money! TW business have been heavily invested in manufacturing in mainland China in the pass 40 years. Their interest is to keep it as-is, instead of being independent. China doesn't want to rebuild TW or have the money for it.

You can't compare TW to URK. Ukraine is a big country, TW is an island with limited resources. Everything in mass quantity other than fresh water and some food, has to brought in on a ship. 98% of the energy is imported, such as Coal, oil, gas, etc. The Chinese would be the one whom laying the sea mines first, not us. Imagine the Cuban Blockade model.

TW is 12 time zones away from lower 48. TW is not NATO or closely located to any NATO country.
We don't have Subic Bay in the PI any more.

You don't want Japan get involved in the war in Asia, most of our allies in SE Asia hate Japanese military to their guts, specially the Pinos and Koreans. Fat Man would not be the last nuke got dropped on, and nobody would feel sorry for them.

 

[DadSmith]

Biden launches Indo-Pacific trade deal, warns over inflation

TOKYO (AP) — President Joe Biden launched a new trade deal with 12 Indo-Pacific nations Monday aimed at strengthening their economies as he warned Americans worried about high inflation that …

www.twincities.com

 

[mark40sw]

Biden launches Indo-Pacific trade deal, warns over inflation

TOKYO (AP) — President Joe Biden launched a new trade deal with 12 Indo-Pacific nations Monday aimed at strengthening their economies as he warned Americans worried about high inflation that …

www.twincities.com

China no doubt will reply to brandon's statements.

 

[churchmouse]

If this were not true it would be funny.
But it is and it’s scary.

 

[KG1]

Biden launches Indo-Pacific trade deal, warns over inflation

TOKYO (AP) — President Joe Biden launched a new trade deal with 12 Indo-Pacific nations Monday aimed at strengthening their economies as he warned Americans worried about high inflation that …

www.twincities.com

Way to go there Joey boy. As if things are'nt ****ed up enough globally already with the Ukraine /Russia situation you have to go and crank up the heat with China.

 

[mark40sw]

China no doubt will reply to brandon's statements.

And they did.......

 

[mark40sw]

Biden launches Indo-Pacific trade deal, warns over inflation

TOKYO (AP) — President Joe Biden launched a new trade deal with 12 Indo-Pacific nations Monday aimed at strengthening their economies as he warned Americans worried about high inflation that …

www.twincities.com

​

White House has yet again to clean up the blabbering idiot​

Biden "Misspeaks" In Vow To Respond Militarily If China Attacks Taiwan, White House Walks Back​

Zerohedge

ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero

www.zerohedge.com

 

[Leadeye]

I was wondering how long it would take before the phone call was made and his statements were walked back. I would really like to know who makes those calls, they are running the country.

 

[KG1]

They need to walk Biden all the way back to his rocking chair in the old folk's home.