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"Just as the US will not allow Hawaii to be stripped away, China has the right to uphold the unification of the country.” (Foreign Minister Wang Yi (9/22/22)
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan on August 2, 2022 sparked outrage in China due to her position as the third ranking official in the US government. As a result of her visit, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) shot missiles over and conducted naval exercises around the island (The Fourth Taiwan Strait Crisis). Several Congress members had previously visited (most prominently Senators Menendez & Graham), but Pelosi’s visit was viewed as a de facto recognition of Taiwan’s independence despite the One China Policy established in the joint 1972 Shanghai communiqué between the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the US; wherein the US "acknowledges that all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is but one China and that Taiwan is a part of China" and "does not challenge that position.” It also established the “Government of the PRC as the sole legal Government of China”. Thus, the US maintains strategic ambiguity through unofficial relations with Taiwan while not recognizing China’s sovereignty over it.
At the October 20th National Party Congress meeting of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Chairman Xi Jinping (elected for a 3rd term) declared: “China would ‘strive for peaceful reunification’ — but then gave a grim warning, saying ‘we will never promise to renounce the use of force and we reserve the option of taking all measures necessary.’
‘The wheels of history are rolling on towards China’s reunification and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Complete reunification of our country must be realized,’ Xi said to thundering applause.” (cnn.com 10/16/22)
The Neolithic Dapenkeng Culture appeared on the island of Taiwan in 3,000 BC following Paleolithic remnants that date back 20-30,000 years to include an era called the Changbin Culture (5,000 -15,000 BC), which was cut off from the mainland due to rising sea levels as glaciers melted. Its artifacts are contemporary with those found in Fujian, China.
The indigenous Austronesian people of Taiwan currently account for only 2.4% of the population, but have lived on the island for some 6,500 years. The Austronesian cultural expansion (known as Lapita) that occurred between 1,500 & 1,000 BCE was a seaborne migration that island-hopped throughout coastal Southeast Asia and across the Pacific using outriggers & crab claw sails to bring jade carving, tattooing, stilt houses, rock art, taro, breadfruit & yams to archipelagos across Oceania.
“Archaeologists have found the first hard evidence that voyagers from the south coast of China about 6,000 years ago set out on the initial leg of migrations that resulted in the people of the Pacific Islands.” (Bob Krauss, Bishop Museum, Honolulu, 2004)
“The Pacific was settled in two major waves. The earlier ‘Papuan’ wave moved into Near Oceania some 40,000 years ago. The second ‘Austronesian’ wave brought Austronesian speakers into Near Oceania, where they interacted with indigenous inhabitants and the Lapita culture developed. Lapita colonists moved out to Remote Oceania around 3,000-3,500 years ago. The Papuan wave of migrations to Australia, Tasmania, and Near Oceania moved so swiftly that it indicates purposeful settlement with the aid of simple water craft. Near Oceania later became a ‘voyaging nursery’ where navigational concepts and technological innovations were developed. This set the stage for the tremendous burst of voyaging that resulted in the settlement of the more distant islands of Remote Oceania by Lapita peoples during the Austronesian expansion.” (Bishop Museum, Honolulu)
“The first settlers of the far-flung Pacific islands of Tonga and Vanuatu likely arrived from Taiwan and the northern Philippines between 2,300 and 3,100 years ago, a new genetic analysis suggests. Ancient DNA extracted from skeletons at two archaeological sites on the islands helps paint this picture of how the remotest reaches of the Pacific were first colonized. ‘The people of Vanuatu today are descended from Asia first of all. They were straight out of Taiwan and perhaps the northern Philippines,’ study co-author Matthew Spriggs, an archaeologist and anthropologist at the Australian National University, said in a statement.” (livescience.com 10/5/2016)
“If scholars are to reconstruct the ancient languages and trace the migration of the Austronesian-speaking peoples, they must make use of the data and language phenomena found in Taiwan’s aboriginal tongues.” (Paul Jen Kuei Li, Taiwan 2011)
The Taiwanese Austronesians sailed as far as Hawaii, Easter Island, New Zealand & Madagascar. According to the Bishop Museum in Honolulu, Polynesians even sailed to South America from Easter Island, exchanging chickens for sweet potatoes and gourds.
Han Chinese traders & fishermen began frequenting the island during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), with settlers from Fujian arriving during the 16th century and the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) issuing licenses to trade with the indigenous people. The Portuguese first mapped the island in 1544, calling it Isla Formosa, the beautiful island. In 1582 Portuguese shipwreck survivors spent 45 days on the island before returning to Macau (colonized in 1557) on a raft.
The Japanese Emperor Toyotomi Hideyoshi wanted to incorporate the island into his empire and sent an envoy with despatch demanding fealty in 1593, but there was no entity to hand it to.
The Dutch East India company built Fort Zeelandia on the southern island of Tayowan in 1624, with a smaller brick fort on the mainland called Provintia. Viewing the Dutch forts as a threat to their colonization of the Philippines, the Spanish built Fort San Salvador on the northeast coast of the island in 1626, followed by Fort Domingo on the northwest coast in 1629. In 1642 the Dutch forced the Spanish from the island.
The Dutch governed the aboriginal people of the island until 1662. During that time they encouraged farmers from Hakka & Hokkien, China to immigrate, giving them free land to grow sugar and rice. In 1652, increases in Dutch taxes and overall population sparked a rebellion against the Europeans. A 4,000 member Chinese army composed of frustrated farmers attacked the Dutch in what is known as the Guo Huaiyi Rebellion, with the colonists persuading the aborigines to join them in battle. The Dutch prevailed thanks to their native allies and portrayed themselves as protectors of aboriginal land against the Chinese.
After the Qing (Manchu) began overwhelming the Ming Dynasty on the mainland in 1641, a Chinese fleet commanded by Zheng Chenggoong (Koxinga) attacked the Dutch forts with a fleet of 400 in April 1661. Zheng began setting up a “Ming Eastern Capital” based in Taiwan called the Kingdom of Tungning, thus creating the precedent for Chiang Kai-shek’s retreat to the island in 1949 after defeat by Mao Tse-tung in the Communist revolution. Dutch forces at Fort Provintia surrendered, but Fort Zeelandia held out until February 1662 after 700 troops from Batavia, Indonesia were dispatched, but were unsuccessful in their attempt to relieve the garrison. The aboriginals that had sided with the Dutch during the Guo Huaiyi Rebellion switched allegiances and assisted the Chinese in executing Dutch colonists that remained.
The Dutch then joined forces with the mainland Qing Dynasty and attempted two invasions of Taiwan in 1664 & 1666, but were unsuccessful. It wasn’t until 1683 that the Qing Dynasty raised a fleet of mariners skilled enough to defeat the Ming Royalist Regime of Taiwan at the Battle of Penghu. The Qing Dynasty annexed Taiwan and revived its sea trade & tributary system. Fort Provintia remains at the heart of present day Tainan.
In 1874 the Japanese invaded southern Taiwan to avenge the Mudan Incident (a massacre of shipwrecked Japanese from the Ryukyu islands) declaring it was not Qing territory. The Qing eventually paid off the Japanese to depart. In 1883 the Sino-French war erupted with the Europeans occupying the port of Keelung in the north of the island in 1884, but withdrew in 1885.
After being severely outgunned, the Qing Dynasty sued for peace with the Japanese during the First Sino-Japanese war and signed Taiwan over to the Meiji Emperor in the 1895 Treaty of Shimonoseki. At the end of Qing Dynasty rule there were 2.5 million Chinese settled on the western plains of the island.
Some 200 - 300,000 people fled the island in 1895, followed by thousands more given the choice between selling their land or becoming Japanese citizens. A Republic of Formosa was declared by the Chinese hoping for Western intervention, with uprisings continuing unabated until 1907 resulting in thousands of fatalities on both sides, but the Japanese prevailed. As Japan began a full-scale invasion of China in 1937, they instituted a “Japanese Spirit” campaign to insure their Taiwanese subjects didn’t support the mainland. Aboriginal resistance to the Japanese occupation lasted into the 1930s and resulted in numerous massacres on both sides. Like Korea (1910 -1945), the Japanese occupied the island until its 1945 defeat in WW II, with over 350,000 Japanese having migrated there over five decades.
When the US entered WW II, the Kuomintang Government of the Republic of China renounced all treaties signed with the Japanese and demanded the return of both Manchuria & Taiwan. In the 1943 Cairo Declaration the Allies demanded the return of Taiwan to China. When Japan surrendered in 1945, Taiwan was placed under the administrative control of the Republic of China (ROC) and their forces were told to surrender to Chiang Kai-shek. On October 26, 1945, the ROC declared Taiwan was a province of China. The Kuomintang Government repatriated 90% of the 300,000+ Japanese to their homeland by 1946.
As the China Civil War intensified then culminated in a Communist victory and formation of the PRC led by Mao on October 1, 1949, Chiang Kai-shek fled Chengdu for Taiwan along with two million Nationalist refugees. The Kuomintang government framed their relocation as a temporary retreat, planning to rearm and redeploy to the mainland, with Chiang Kai-shek stating: "prepare for one year, counterattack in two years, sweep out the enemy in three years and succeed within five years.” The Kuomintang government took control of all Japanese monopolies and moved the gold reserves of China to Taiwan.
In the San Francisco peace Treaty of 1951, the Japanese renounced their sovereignty over Taiwan, which was followed by the Treaty of Taipei in which China and Japan agreed all treaties before 12/9/41 were null & void, therefore cancelling the 1895 Treaty of Shimonoseki. The Treaty of Taipei is considered by many legal scholars to be de jure support of China’s claims to Taiwan.
The First Taiwan Strait Crisis (1954-55) was a conflict between the PRC & ROC over several islands just off the Chinese mainland to which Chiang Kai-shek & the Nationalists first retreated. The brief military exchange began when the PRC shelled the ROC’s Quemoy Island (Kinmen), then seized their Yijiangshan Islands. Under PRC pressure the ROC then abandoned the Tachen Islands, where US Navy assets had been located. The Formosa Resolution Act of 1955 in the US Congress authorized the 7th Fleet to perform Operation Pullback, an evacuation of American forces and thousands of their ROC allies from Tachen to Taiwan.
The Second Taiwan Crisis occurred in 1958, again with the PRC attacking Quemoy and the Matsu Islands. The ROC repelled a PRC amphibious attack on Dongding Island during a naval battle. After shelling of the islands began, the US Joint Chiefs determined nuclear weapons should be used in defense of the islands.
Between 1950 and 1965 the US sent some $5 billion in both military and economic aid. Chiang Kai-shek died in 1975 and Kuomintang leadership came to an end in the 2000 election, although retaining political power through the legislature until regaining the presidency in 2008. Chiang Kai-shek’s great-grandson, Chiang Wan-an, was elected mayor of Taipei on November 26, 2022, thus restoring Kuomintang leadership in a position that is often a springboard to the presidency. Generally speaking, the Kuomintang Party are more pro-unification with China than the pro-US Democratic Progressive Party.
The US formally established diplomatic relations with Beijing in 1979 during the Carter Administration. That same year the US passed the Taiwan Relations Act which states it must help the island defend itself, which is why arms sales continue. The US doesn’t have an Embassy per se in Taipei due to the One China Policy, but maintains an unofficial presence through the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT). Diplomatic passports are not held by its staff and Taiwan is not recognized as a country by the UN and much of the world.
“To the United States, the ROC ceased to be recognized as a nation-state after January 1st, 1979, with the Taiwan Relations Act later governing this relationship starting on April 10th of the same year. Interestingly, while the UN expelled ROC representatives in 1972, UN resolution 2758 merely referred to them as the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek, and not of Taiwan or the ROC.” (newbloommag.net)
The Third Taiwan Strait Crisis occurred from 1995-96 after the US Congress granted Taiwan President Lee a visa to visit his alma mater, Cornell University. The PRC fired several live-fire missile salvos and mobilized its forces in Fujian in reaction to what they considered US meddling in China’s internal affairs.
The One China Policy should not to be confused with the One China Principle: the latter claims there is only one China and Taiwan is part of China.
The position of the United States, as clarified in the China/Taiwan: Evolution of the "One China" Policy report of the Congressional Research Service (date: 9 July 2007) is summed up in five points (These positions remained unchanged in a 2013 CRS report):
The United States did not explicitly state the sovereign status of Taiwan in the three US-PRC Joint Communiques of 1972, 1979, and 1982.
The United States "acknowledged" the "One China" position of both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
U.S. policy has not recognized the PRC's sovereignty over Taiwan;
U.S. policy has not recognized Taiwan as a sovereign country; and
U.S. policy has considered Taiwan's status as unsettled.
“Today (4/7/22) Senator Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced the Taiwan Weapons Exports Act, which would fast-track delivery of critical weapons to Taiwan by expediting Congressional approval and eliminating administrative roadblocks.
The threat of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan is growing rapidly. Critical to deterring such an invasion is ensuring Taiwan has the weapons it needs to defend itself, including naval mines, anti-tank missiles, man-portable air defense systems, and other asymmetric defense capabilities. This legislation would help the United States get these weapons to Taiwan as quickly as possible.
‘The Biden administration waited for Russia to invade before surging lethal aid to Ukraine,’ Senator Hawley said. ‘We can’t afford to the make same mistake in the Indo-Pacific. That’s why it is so important to fast-track weapons to Taiwan now, while Taiwan still has to time to marshal its defenses and deter a Chinese invasion.’” (The Congressional Record)
“A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers flew to Taiwan for an official visit Thursday, defying threats from the Chinese government. Lawmakers from both the House and Senate landed in the country Wednesday morning to a warm welcome from Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen. The Chinese government soon released a statement condemning the visit.
“The lawmakers visiting Taiwan were Republican Senators Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Richard Burr of North Carolina, and Rob Portman of Ohio, Republican Texas Rep. Ronny Jackson, and Democratic New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez.
The lawmakers are among the most high-level U.S. officials to visit Taiwan. Mainland China argues Taiwan is a rogue region of China and not an independent country. The U.S. has tenuously respected that designation for decades, even while sending military aid and occasional visits from U.S. officials to support Taiwan.
‘China firmly opposes any form of official interaction between the U.S. and China’s Taiwan region,’ the spokesperson for the Chinese government tweeted Thursday.” (foxnews.com 4/14/22)
“‘So here’s my promise to the Taiwanese people: We’re going to start making China pay a greater price for what they’re doing all over the world. The support for Putin must come with a price. The never-ending cyberattacks on your economy and your people by the Communist Chinese need to come with a price,’ Senator Graham said.
‘…The hyper-nationalist president of the People’s Republic of China…he (Xi Jinping) is no doubt taking notes and learning lessons from Russia’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine to apply to his plans for Taiwan. The United States and our partners in the international community need to do the same to develop and put in place a new and more resilient strategy for Taiwan while there is still time,” Senator Menendez remarked. (Libertarianinstitute.org)
On May 23, 2022, President Biden stated the US would intervene militarily if China invaded Taiwan: “That’s the commitment we made,” referring to the Taiwan Relations Act. Of course, the act doesn’t guarantee a military response, only the right to arm Taipei. China responded by declaring Biden’s statements as “hypocritical and futile” encouragement for “Taiwan’s independence forces.” Secretary of State Blinken later clarified in a speech that the US policy toward Taiwan had not changed.
“Although U.S. military aid to Taiwan traditionally comes by way of arms sales, that may soon change. Senators Bob Menendez and Lindsey Graham passed the Taiwan Policy Act—a piece of legislation that would radically overhaul Sino-American relations.
In short, “the Taiwan Policy Act would give Taiwan $4.5 billion in military aid, give the island the benefits of being a ‘major non-NATO ally,’ expedite arms sales to Taipei, and require sanction in the event of Chinese aggression.” The bill would also authorize up to $2 billion in loans to Taiwan.
On September 14, the bill passed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Rather than passing it as a stand alone piece of legislation, the bill’s supporters currently seek to incorporate “much” of the bill into the $817 billion 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). As of Wednesday, it is not clear exactly which provisions would be incorporated.” (Libertarianinstitute.com)
“U.S. Aims to Turn Taiwan Into Giant Weapons Depot: Officials say Taiwan needs to become a "porcupine" with enough weapons to hold out if the Chinese military blockades and invades it, even if Washington decides to send troops.” (nytimes.com 10/5/22)
“The Senate’s annual defense authorization bill will now include $10 billion in military aid for Taiwan — more than double the initial amount proposed — even as it scales back language intended to help address the $14 billion backlog of arms sales the Asian nation already made from the U.S.
The White House had expressed concerns regarding the initial version of the Taiwan Policy Act, introduced by Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Menendez, D-N.J. He worked with the White House to address many of those concerns, but the NDAA only contains the defense components of Menendez’s bill while removing provisions that would upgrade diplomatic ties with Taipei, give Taiwan the same treatment as major non-NATO allies and sanction China. China considers Taiwan a rogue province and has threatened to return it under the mainland’s control, by force if necessary.
Still, the $10 billion in Foreign Military Financing — a program that allows other countries to purchase U.S. military equipment with grants and loans — marks another significant increase from the $4.5 billion proposed in Menendez’s initial version of the bill.” (defensenews.com 10/17/22)
Meanwhile, the provocations just keep coming: “Last week, President Biden announced new restrictions on US firms selling semiconductors to China, including restrictions on US citizens working at Chinese chip plants. Nobody might have noticed, but this is a full-blown economic war on China, a means to prohibit the country's rise as a high-tech superpower.” (cnn.com 10/16/22)
“The Chinese government, Xi said, had ‘protected people’s lives and health’ from Covid, turned Hong Kong from ‘chaos to governance,’ and carried out ‘major struggles’ against ‘independence forces’ in the island of Taiwan, a self-governing democracy Beijing claims as its own territory despite having never controlled it. Wen-Ti Sung, a political scientist with the Australia National University’s Taiwan Studies Program, said Xi’s decision to flag the Taiwan issue early on in his speech was a departure from previous speeches and conveys a ‘newfound urgency on making progress on the Taiwan issue. Xi won the loudest and longest applause from the nearly 2,300 handpicked delegates inside the Great Hall of the People when he spoke about Taiwan again later in the speech.” (cnn.com 10/16/22)
“A senior admiral in the US Navy has warned of a potential military conflict with China. Adm. Mike Gilday urged the military to keep warships “lethal, capable and ready to win” against enemies. Gilday, chief of naval operations, said readiness and crew training should take priority over military capacity, speaking in an interview on Wednesday with the Atlantic Council, NATO’s de facto think tank.
‘What we’ve seen over the past 20 years is that [the Chinese] have delivered on every promise they’ve made earlier than they said they were going to deliver on it. So when we talk about the 2027 window, in my mind, that has to be a 2022 window or potentially a 2023 window. I can’t rule it out,’ he said.” (rt.com 10/20/22)
“Taiwan is an inherent part of the People's Republic of China. This is the position we have & it remains unchanged. All positive gestures such as visits to Taiwan by US highest dignitaries are seen in Russia as nothing but provocation. (Russian President Putin at the Valdai Conference 10/27/22)
"‘If the US side wants to improve military communication between China and the US, then it should match words with deeds, demonstrate its sincerity, and earnestly respect China’s interests and major concerns, and remove the negative factors that impede the development of ties between the two militaries,’ China Defense Ministry spokesperson Tan said.
‘Everything happens for a reason,’ Tan told a monthly press conference in Beijing, adding that the suspension of the dialogues was China's response in ‘safeguarding national sovereignty and dignity’ against ‘malicious provocation’ by the US.” (The South China Morning Post 10/27/22)
“It (the IMF chart) explains why Washington is so worried about China’s explosive growth. It explains why the US continues to hector China on the issues of Taiwan and the South China Sea. It explains why Washington sends congressional delegations to Taiwan in defiance of Beijing’s explicit requests. It explains why the Pentagon continues to send US warships through the Taiwan Strait and ship massive amounts of lethal weaponry to Taipei. It explains why Washington is creating anti-China coalitions in Asia that are aimed at encircling and provoking Beijing. It explains why the Biden administration is stepping up its trade war on China, imposing onerous economic sanctions on its businesses, and banning critical high-tech semi-conductors that are ‘are essential not just… for virtually every aspect of modern society, from electronic products and transport to the design and production of all manner of goods.’ It explains why China has been singled-out in the US National Security Strategy (NSS) as ‘the only competitor with both the intent and, increasingly, the capability to reshape the international order.’ It explains why Washington now regards China as its biggest and most formidable strategic adversary that must be isolated, demonized and defeated.
The chart above explains everything, not just the hostile diplomatic jabs that are designed to discredit and humiliate China, but also the openly belligerent policies that are aimed at Russia as well. People need to understand this. They need to see what is really going on so they can put events in their proper geopolitical context.” (Mike Whitney: zerohedge.com 11/4/22)
“Taiwan’s military forces have sprung into action to warn away Chinese aircraft and naval vessels that were detected near the self-governing island, including one plane that allegedly crossed into Taipei’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).
Jets, missile systems and naval forces were scrambled after nine Chinese aircraft and two navy ships were detected in and near the Taiwan Strait on Saturday, the Taiwanese defense ministry said. The aircraft that breached the ADIZ was at the southwest corner of the zone, in the same area where a record 56 Chinese jets flew on October 4.” (rt.com 11/5/22)
“Beijing calls on London to stop official contacts with the Taipei administration, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a briefing on Monday, commenting on a visit to Taiwan by UK Minister of State Greg Hands.
‘We call on the UK to respect the sovereignty of China, strictly observe the 'one China' principle and stop all official contacts with Taiwan,’ Zhao Lijian said. He also added that London should not send false signals to Taiwanese separatists who advocate the island's independence. (Tass.com 11/7/22)
“‘It’s real that this thing could happen to us,’ President of Taiwan Tsai said. ‘So we need to get ourselves ready.’ At another point, she emphasized: ‘There is a genuine threat out there. It’s not hype. If the PLA wants to do something drastic, Xi has to weigh the costs,’ Tsai said. ‘He has to think twice.’
‘The purpose is to make China believe that if you want to invade Taiwan, you will suffer huge losses,’ said Admiral Lee Hsi-ming. ‘And if you still invade Taiwan, you will not be able to succeed.’ Tsai noted that the Taiwan legislature recently passed a double-digit increase in the defense budget; Taiwan is now on pace to spend more than $19 billion on defense in 2023. But China spends more than $200 billion a year.” (Taiwan Prepares To Be Invaded: theatlantic.com 11/8/22)
“President Joe Biden objected to China’s ‘coercive and increasingly aggressive actions’ toward Taiwan during his first in-person meeting on Monday with President Xi Jinping, as the leaders of the two superpowers aimed to ‘manage’ differences between their nations as they compete for global influence. Biden reiterated U.S. support for its longstanding ‘One China’ policy, which recognizes the government in Beijing while allowing for informal relations and defense ties with Taipei, and its posture of ‘strategic ambiguity’ over whether it would respond militarily if the island were attacked. He also said that despite China's recent saber rattling, he does not believe ‘there’s any imminent attempt on the part of China to invade Taiwan.’
Xi, according to the Chinese government’s account of the meeting, ‘stressed that the Taiwan question is at the very core of China’s core interests, the bedrock of the political foundation of China-U.S. relations, and the first red line that must not be crossed in China-U.S. relations.’” (Omaha.com 11/14/22)
“US authorities are concerned that the flow of weapons to Ukraine could cause a deficit in terms of Washington's long-term plans to arm Taiwan amid increasing tensions with China, US media reported. Last December, the backlog of deliveries for Taiwan was more than $14 billion, and has since grown to $18.7 billion, the newspaper said on Sunday, citing government and congressional officials. Sources told The Wall Street Journal that 208 Javelin anti-tank weapons ordered in December 2015, as well as 215 surface-to-air Stinger missiles ordered that same year, have not yet arrived on the island.” (sputnik.news.com 11/28/22)
“China's military has said that its forces have ‘followed and warned away’ the American guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville after it approached the Nansha [also called the Spratly] Islands in the South China Sea early on Tuesday. The arrival without prior Chinese authorization of the US warship near the islands, which Beijing considers to be part of its territory, was a ‘serious violation of China’s sovereignty and security,’ the country's military spokesman Tian Junli declared. The move was further proof that Washington is working towards ‘militarization of the South China Sea,’ Tian said, adding that the US was a ‘provocateur against peace’ in the region.” (rt.com 11/29/22)
“Speaking at the Richard Nixon Foundation’s Grand Strategy Summit on 10 November, former US National Security Advisor Ambassador Robert O’Brien appeared to lend credence to reports the US will disable Taiwan’s semi-conductor chip manufacturing capabilities if China attempts to reunify the island with the mainland.
‘If China takes Taiwan and takes those factories intact – which I don’t think we would ever allow – they have a monopoly over chips the way OPEC has a monopoly, or even more than the way OPEC has a monopoly over oil,’ said O’Brien. The US Army War College Press published a paper in November 2021 recommending that the US make credible threats to destroy Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) facilities, eliminating the most important supplier of micro-processing chips to China and the World.” (army-technology.com 11/30/22)
“Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a press conference on European security issues on Thursday that NATO followed Europe in creating an explosive situation in the Asia-Pacific region, prompting Russia and China to strengthen their military cooperation and hold joint exercises in response.
‘We know how seriously the People’s Republic of China regards these provocations [by NATO in the South China Sea], let alone Taiwan and the Taiwan Strait. We understand that this playing with fire by NATO in that part of the world carries threats and risks for the Russian Federation. It’s as close to our shores and our seas as it is to Chinese territory. So, our military cooperation with the People’s Republic of China is developing. We are holding joint exercises, both counterterrorism exercises and air patrolling exercises,’ the minister said. ‘These are precautions that show our readiness for any eventuality. But the fact that it’s NATO, led by the US, that follows Europe in trying to create an explosive situation there is perfectly well understood by everyone,’ he said.” (tass.com 12/1/22)
“Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said the US is building a more lethal force posture in the Indo-Pacific as part of efforts to make sure China doesn’t dominate the region the way it intends to. China is ‘the only country with both the will and, increasingly, the power to reshape its region and the international order to suit its authoritarian preferences,’ Austin told the Reagan National Defense Forum on Saturday. ‘So let me be clear—we’re not going to let that happen.’ Austin said the US would ‘sustain and sharpen our war-fighting advantages’ and bolster its force presence ‘to build a more lethal, mobile and distributed force posture.’” (businessmirror.com.ph 12/4/22)
“The US intends to supply Taiwan with approximately 100 Patriot missile defense systems. Bloomberg reported this on Monday, citing sources. The agreement will also include radar and related equipment. The transaction will cost approximately $882 million in total. According to the publication, the proposal was prepared on the basis of a 2010 agreement reached between the US and the Taiwan administration. On Tuesday, the State Department is expected to announce the initiative and send it to Congress for consideration.” (azgeopolitics.com 12/6/22)
“Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) pressed Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday to prioritize sending arms to Taiwan to defend itself against China over helping Ukraine hold off the Russian invasion, arguing that the former is more important to U.S. national security interests. Hawley said in a letter to Blinken that arms transfers to Ukraine are impeding the United States’ ability to prevent a war in Asia through supplying Taiwan.
‘Seizing Taiwan is Beijing’s next step toward dominating the Indo-Pacific region,’ he said. ‘If Beijing succeeds, it would have dire ramifications for Americans’ national security, as well as our economic security and freedom of action.’ Hawley said the Biden administration is prioritizing Ukraine over our the United States’ ‘vital security interests’ in Asia, a strategy he said is not sustainable. He pointed to comments in which Blinken noted the Chinese government is determined to accomplish ‘reunification’ on a faster timeline. (thehill.com 12/6/22)
“The new (NDAA 2023) spending bill also authorizes the Taiwan Enhanced Resilience Act, which is designed to ‘increase security cooperation’ with the island and would allocate up to $10 billion for that purpose over the next five years. The latter provision is likely to trigger condemnation from Beijing, which considers Taiwan part of its sovereign territory and has repeatedly urged Washington to halt all direct dealings with Taipei.
Another project targeting China, the US Pacific Deterrence Initiative, will receive another $11.5 billion in new investments under the current draft legislation. The Pentagon has noted the initiative aims to confront the supposed ‘multi-domain threat’ posed by Beijing and expand the US military footprint in the Indo-Pacific region.” (rt.com 12/7/22)
“Taiwan's defense ministry said on Thursday that the island’s armed forces registered 39 aircraft and three ships of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) approaching the island in the past 24 hours. ‘39 PLA aircraft and 3 PLAN vessels around Taiwan were detected by 6 a.m.(UTC+8) today. R.O.C. Armed Forces have monitored the situation and tasked CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond these activities,’ the ministry said on Twitter.
According to the ministry, 21 J-16 fighters, one CH-4 unmanned aerial vehicle, two KJ-500 airborne early warning aircraft, one Y-20 cargo aircraft, one Z-9 utility helicopter, and four H-6 jet bombers crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan sent an air patrol to monitor the situation, issued radio warnings, and deployed anti-aircraft missile systems, the ministry added.” (sputniknews.com 12/22/22)
“Washington must drop its old trick of unilateral bullying’ that it hands out to Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The two top diplomats had a phone call at Washington's request, Beijing said in a statement. ‘It must be pointed out that the United States should not pursue dialogue and cooperation while containing and stabbing China in the back,’ Wang told Blinken, according to the readout of the call circulated by the Chinese Foreign Ministry. ‘In effect, it is still the old trick of unilateral bullying. It has not worked with China in the past, nor will it work in the future.’
Wang added that Washington ‘must take seriously China's legitimate concerns, stop containing and suppressing China's development, and particularly stop using salami tactics to constantly challenge China's red line,’ referring to the negotiation practice of repeatedly securing small, incremental concessions.” (rt.com 12/24/22)
“Washington intentionally hypes up the “China threat” as an excuse to boost its military spending, all in an effort to maintain its global dominance, the Chinese Defense Ministry said in a statement on Saturday, after President Joe Biden signed the 2023 US National Defense Authorization Act into law. ‘Facts have proved more than once that the US is the direct threat to the international order and the culprit of the regional turbulence,’ said the ministry’s spokesman, Colonel Tan Kefei.
The statement went on to claim that, in pursuit of its own interests, the US on multiple occasions has ‘either waged wars against other countries or created conflicts, causing massive casualties and displacement of innocent civilians.’” (rt.com 12/25/22)
“Taiwan's defense ministry said on Monday that the island's armed forces registered 71 aircraft and seven ships of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) approaching the island in the past 24 hours. ‘71 PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN vessels around Taiwan were detected in our surrounding region by 6 a.m.(UTC+8) today. 47 of the detected aircraft had crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s southwest ADIZ. R.O.C. [air defense identification zone of the Republic of China],’ the ministry said in a statement. According to the ministry, Taiwan sent jets, Navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond to China’s actions.” (sputnik.news.com 12/26/22)
“The U.S. State Department has approved the sale of an anti-tank mine-laying system to Taiwan amid the rising military threat from China. The department on Wednesday said the Volcano system and all related equipment would cost an estimated $180 million.” (usanews.com 12/29/22)
“The United States and Taiwan, under the auspices of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO), will hold an in-person negotiating round for the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade in Taipei, Taiwan, from January 14-17, 2023.
“The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) will lead the U.S. delegation as the designated representative of AIT. The U.S. delegation will be led by Assistant United States Trade Representative Terry McCartin and will include representatives from several other U.S. government agencies. These meetings will be closed press.” (ustr.gov 01/5/23)
“The US and its Asian friends are laying a foundation (like the one that enabled the West to bolster Ukraine’s defenses against Russia) in preparation for a Chinese invasion of Taiwan:
‘Why have we achieved the level of success we've achieved in Ukraine? Because after Russian aggression in 2014 and 2015, we earnestly got after preparing for future conflict: training for the Ukrainians, pre-positioning of supplies, identification of sites from which we could operate support, sustain operations. We call that setting the theatre. And we are setting the theatre in Japan, in the Philippines, in other locations.
‘When you talk about the complexity, the size of some of the operations they would have to conduct, let’s say [in] an invasion of Taiwan, there will be indications and warnings, and there are specific aspects to that in terms of geography and time, which allow us to posture and be most prepared,’ he said. As part of those preparations, the Philippines plan to allow US forces to preposition weapons and other supplies on five more bases in addition to five where the US has already access.
‘You gain a leverage point, a base of operations, which allows you to have a tremendous head start in different operational plans,’ Bierman said. ‘As we square off with the Chinese adversary, who is going to own the starting pistol and is going to have the ability potentially to initiate hostilities . . . we can identify decisive key terrain that must be held, secured, defended, leveraged.’” Lt. General James Bierman (ft.com 1/8/23)
“A Taiwan air force officer revealed details on Wednesday of a rare interaction between the island’s military and NATO, describing how he had attended a six month academic programme with senior officials in Italy.
Speaking to reporters on a trip to the Hsinchu air base in northern Taiwan, air force Lieutenant Colonel Wu Bong-yeng said he had attended a six month course at the NATO Defence College in Rome in 2021, returning to Taiwan in January last year.” (jp.reuters.com 1/11/23)
“Former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Thursday called for arms deliveries to Taiwan ‘now’ to prevent China's alleged attack on the island and explain to Beijing the potential economic limitations it would face in the event of an attack. ‘European politicians must stop sending mixed signals. China relies on exports to global markets to fuel its growth. It is far more entwined in global supply chains than Russia, so spelling out the economic consequences of an attack in advance can act as a powerful deterrent,’ Rasmussen wrote for the Financial Times. ‘To be an effective deterrent, we should give Taiwan the weapons it needs to defend itself now. Xi Jinping must calculate that the cost of an invasion is simply too high.’” (sputniknews.com 1/13/23)
“Taiwan’s Vice President, William Lai warned that appeasing China ‘cannot buy peace’, days after he was elected head of the ruling party in a move that makes him a prime presidential candidate at the next elections, reported news agency AFP. Lai, 63, is seen as a likely successor to President Tsai Ing-wen, who has been barred from contesting again after her second four-year term that would end in May 2024. ‘Appeasement cannot buy peace,’ Lai said on Wednesday in his first comments on China since assuming the Democratic Progressive party leadership.
He said that Taiwan does not need to declare independence because it was ‘already a sovereign country’, echoing previous comments by Tsai. Lai has been more vocal than Tsai on Taiwanese independence and for the same reason is openly loathed by Beijing.” (news.abplive.com 1/19/23)
“Newly appointed Republican speaker of the US House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy is reportedly preparing for a visit to Taiwan. The news should not surprise anybody. Beholden to his party’s right wing, which blocked his election 15 times, and a scathing opponent of China, it is to be expected that McCarthy is both out to make life as difficult as possible for the Biden administration and to derail any stability in Washington’s relations with Beijing, pushing for further hawkishness where possible.
In anticipation of this visit, the Pentagon is making contingency plans already. When Nancy Pelosi controversially visited Taiwan in August, it generated a crisis as China responded with fierce military exercises, raising alarm about a potential war brewing between the US and China over the island’s fate. Of course, there is nothing the Republican Party in particular would like to do more than to steer US-China ties towards conflict in the bid to introduce even more hard-line policies against Beijing and to intensify an already emerging Cold War.” (rt.com 1/26/23)
“A four-star Air Force general sent a memo on Friday to the officers he commands that predicts the U.S. will be at war with China in two years and tells them to get ready to prep by firing ‘a clip’ at a target, and ‘aim for the head.’ In the memo sent Friday and obtained by NBC News, Gen. Mike Minihan, head of Air Mobility Command, said, ‘I hope I am wrong. My gut tells me will fight in 2025.’
Air Mobility Command has nearly 50,000 service members and nearly 500 planes and is responsible for transport and refueling. Minihan said in the memo that because both Taiwan and the U.S. will have presidential elections in 2024, the U.S. will be ‘distracted,’ and Chinese President Xi Jinping will have an opportunity to move on Taiwan.” (nbcnews.com 1/27/23)
“The US military is likely to obtain access to up to four military bases in the Philippines in the coming days, corporate media outlets are claiming. Citing unnamed American and Filipino officials, the Washington Post wrote Monday that the proposed expansion ‘involves access to Philippine military bases, likely including two on the northern island of Luzon,’ which they insisted ‘could give US forces a strategic position from which to mount operations in the event of a conflict in Taiwan or the South China Sea.’” (sputniknews.com 1/31/23)
“The military cooperation of Australia, the UK and the US within the AUKUS trilateral format is provoking a military standoff in the Asia-Pacific region, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Mao Ning said during a briefing Wednesday. ‘The establishment of the so-called AUKUS trilateral security partnership is effectively aimed at provoking a military confrontation through military cooperation,’ she said, commenting on a question about the potential expansion of AUKUS to include India and Japan. She noted that AUKUS’ activities increase the risk of nuclear proliferation and ramp up the arms race in the Asia-Pacific region. ‘We are deeply concerned about this and we strongly oppose it,’ Mao Ning said.” (tass.com 2/1/23)
“The US House of Representatives Select Committee on China is discussing whether it should send a congressional delegation to Taiwan despite realizing that such a move would likely rile up Beijing, Nikkei reported on Sunday, citing an American lawmaker. Congressman Rob Wittman (R-Virginia), who sits on the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the US and the Chinese Communist Party, told the Japanese outlet that some of the panel’s members are exploring the possibility of visiting the self-governed island in a show of support. Wittman conceded that such a trip would “infuriate the Chinese.” Beijing considers the island an inalienable part of its territory. ‘But I think it’s incredibly important for us to do that, because you have to send the signal that we’re strongly on the side of Taiwan,’ he explained.” (rt.com 2/12/23)
“The Pentagon's top China official, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Michael Chase, has arrived in Taiwan, two sources familiar with matter said on Friday, beginning a visit that could exacerbate tensions between Beijing and Washington. Both Taiwan's Defence Ministry and the Pentagon declined to comment on the trip, which was first reported by the Financial Times. “We don't have a comment on specific operations, but I would highlight that our support for, and defense relationship with, Taiwan remains aligned against the current threat posed by the People's Republic of China,’ a Pentagon spokesperson said.” (reuters.com 2/17/23)
“The White House will meet senior Taiwan officials next week in Washington for talks meant to be private to avoid an angry reaction from China, the Financial Times reported on Saturday, at a time of heightened tensions between Taipei and Beijing. Foreign Minister Joseph Wu and National Security Adviser Wellington Koo will lead the delegation, the newspaper said, citing five people familiar with the talks whom it did not name.” (ft.com 2/18/23)
“The U.S. is markedly increasing the number of troops deployed to Taiwan, more than quadrupling the current number to bolster a training program for the island’s military amid a rising threat from China. The U.S. plans to deploy between 100 and 200 troops to the island in the coming months, up from roughly 30 there a year ago, according to U.S. officials. The larger force will expand a training program the Pentagon has taken pains not to publicize as the U.S. works to provide Taipei with the capabilities it needs to defend itself without provoking Beijing.” (wsj.com 2/23/23)
“The P-8A Poseidon anti-submarine patrol and reconnaissance aircraft flew through the strait separating mainland China and the self-governed island of Taiwan on Monday. A Chinese Su-27 took off and monitored the American spy plane along its path. Senior Colonel Shi Yi, a spokesman for the PLA (People’s Liberation Army) Eastern Theater Command, said this maneuver ‘deliberately damaged the regional situation and jeopardized peace and stability’ in the region. He added that the Chinese military was ‘on high alert to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.’” (rt.com 2/27/23)
“The United States has approved the potential sale of $619 million in new weapons to Taiwan, including missiles for its F-16 fleet, as the island reported a second day of large-scale Chinese air force incursions nearby. The arms sales are likely to further sour already tense ties between Washington and Beijing, which has repeatedly demanded such deals stop, viewing them as unwarranted support for democratically governed Taiwan, an island China claims as its own territory.” (reuters.com 3/1/23)
“The United States is the top ‘nuclear threat’ in the world, China has said, accusing Washington of seeking to maintain ‘military hegemony’ over other nations after US officials declared the need to reign in Beijing’s much smaller weapons program.
Speaking to reporters during a press briefing on Friday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning was asked to respond after a top security adviser to US President Joe Biden stated the White House needed to ‘invest China in work to diminish nuclear threats. Calling China a nuclear threat is a convenient pretext for the US to expand its own nuclear arsenal and keep its military hegemony,’ she said, insisting China has maintained a ‘prudent and responsible’ nuclear policy, in stark contrast to Washington’s.” (rt.com 3/4/23)
“China will vigorously fight against ‘Taiwan’s independence’ and promote reunification of the island with the homeland, according to a government report released on Sunday at the opening of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (the supreme legislative body).
‘We will steadfastly implement the Party's overall strategy to resolve the Taiwan issue in the new era, firmly uphold the one-China principle and abide by the 1992 consensus, fight resolutely against so-called Taiwan independence, promote the peaceful development of relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait and advance the peaceful reunification of the homeland,’ the report said.” (tass.com 3/5/23)
“China announced it will boost its military budget by nearly $230 billion this year amid concerns it will launch an invasion of Taiwan. The money is set to 'boost combat preparedness and enhance military capabilities,' claimed Premier Li Keqiang ahead of a draft budget presented to the National People's Congress in Beijing.
It means China's military spending will grow at its fastest pace in four years and take up a larger share of its economy, marking the reversal of a two-decade trend which has seen the nation prioritize growth over its military capabilities.” (dailymail.com 3/5/23)
"If the United States does not hit the brakes, and continues to speed down the wrong path, no amount of guardrails can prevent derailment, which will become conflict and confrontation, and who will bear the catastrophic consequences?” (China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang 3/6/23)
“At the closing session of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress, Xi stated that ‘The complete reunification of the motherland is the common aspiration of all Chinese people and the meaning of national rejuvenation. One should actively promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and resolutely oppose interference by outside forces and separatist activities aimed at achieving Taiwan independence.’” (sputniknews.com 3/13/23)
“The West’s expansion of its military presence in Asia risks causing a prolonged conflict because people in the region will not accept the move, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said. By pushing ‘bloc structures, such as AUKUS and NATO infrastructure into Asia,’ Western leaders are making ‘a serious bid for a confrontation lasting for many, long years,’ he told a gathering in Moscow on Tuesday.
‘I cannot imagine the great Asian civilizations toeing the line the way the EU unfortunately did, and obediently delivering Washington’s agenda,’ Lavrov explained.” (rt.com 3/14/23)
“Ma Ying-jeou, the former Taiwanese president who made history by meeting with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in 2015, reportedly plans to break new diplomatic ground again by making an unprecedented trip to the mainland later this month.
The visit will mark the first trip to the mainland by a current or former Taiwanese leader since Chiang Kai-shek’s supporters fled to the island in 1949. Chiang held his last meeting with Mao Zedong, leader of the Chinese communist revolution, in 1945. Then-President Ma and Xi held their historic 2015 summit in Singapore, seeking to ease tensions and boost cooperation.” (rt.com 3/19/23)
“‘The imperative is to get the most suitable aircraft to the Pacific for the higher threat challenges,’ the WSJ quoted retired US Air Force major general Larry Stutzriem as saying. The US and some of its allies have expressed concern at possible Chinese military expansionism in the Pacific region.
Washington views China as its ‘pacing threat,’ per National Defense Review documents released by the Pentagon last year – effectively meaning that the US sees the Asian nation as a rival to its ‘interests and values,’ according to US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.” (rt.com 3/23/23)
“The U.S. military must be ready for possible confrontation with China, the Pentagon's leaders said Thursday, pushing Congress to approve the Defense Department's proposed $842 billion budget, which would modernize the force in Asia and around the world.
‘This is a strategy-driven budget — and one driven by the seriousness of our strategic competition with the People’s Republic of China,’ Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in testimony before the House Appropriations subcommittee on defense.” (abcnews.go.com 3/23/23)
“People on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are ethnically Chinese and share the same ancestor, former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou said on Tuesday at the start of a historic visit to China that Taiwan's ruling party has criticised. Ma, in office from 2008-2016, is the first former or current Taiwanese president to visit China since the defeated Republic of China government fled to Taiwan in 1949 at the end of a civil war with the Communists.” (reuters.com 3/28/23)
“Chinese leader Xi Jinping says he is preparing for war. At the annual meeting of China’s parliament and its top political advisory body in March, Xi wove the theme of war readiness through four separate speeches, in one instance telling his generals to ‘dare to fight.’ His government also announced a 7.2 percent increase in China’s defense budget, which has doubled over the last decade, as well as plans to make the country less dependent on foreign grain imports. And in recent months, Beijing has unveiled new military readiness laws, new air-raid shelters in cities across the strait from Taiwan, and new ‘National Defense Mobilization’ offices countrywide.” (foreignaffairs.com 3/29/23)
“The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) sent 18 aircraft and four naval vessels toward Taiwan on Saturday, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said, as Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen visited the island’s Central American allies. Taiwan’s military detected the Chinese aircraft and naval vessels at around 6 a.m. (local time), with 10 aircraft spotted crossing the Taiwan Strait median line, the ministry said in a statement posted on Twitter.
Taiwan responded by deploying aircraft, navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to monitor the Chinese military’s activities. This came after Beijing threatened retaliation if Tsai meets with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) during her 10-day trip to Guatemala and Belize—two of the 13 nations that have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan—which began on March 29.” (theepochtimes.com 4/1/23)
"‘The next war is likely to be very fast [with] missile exchanges over the Taiwan Strait,’ (Former Acting Secretary of the Army John) Whitley told an Atlantic Council conference on the military lessons to be learned from the first year of the Ukraine conflict on Monday. The United States needed to work with Taiwan to prepare in advance the kind of training, familiarity with light tactical weapons and operational expertise it succeeded in developing in Ukraine in the years building up to the conflict that began in February 2022, Whitley said.
‘How do you get an ally or friend to hang on until we can get there? How do you build in Taiwan that [capability] we have seen in Ukraine: that we are not seeing there [in Taiwan] yet?’ he said. Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) Distinguished Research Fellow Thomas X. Hammes told the conference that in the event of a conflict with China over Taiwan the US armed forces would have to ‘break the back’ of Chinese People's Liberation Army air, sea and rocket forces.” (sputniknews.com 4/4/23)
“China has launched military patrols in two areas of the Taiwan Strait ahead of the meeting between US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in Los Angeles during her transit trip to the United States, the Chinese Maritime Safety Administration in the province of Fujian said on Wednesday.
‘Special joint patrol and inspection operation began today in the central and northern parts of the Taiwan Strait,’ the administration said on Chinese social media WeChat. The administration also attached an image to the message showing patrol areas, which are located very close to Taiwan.
Following the news, Beijing firmly opposed the meeting as it contradicts the one-China principle and undermines the country's sovereignty, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Tuesday.” (sputnikglobal.com 4/5/23)
“The Taiwan issue is the ‘first red line’ that should not be crossed in relations between China and the US, Beijing has told Washington. The warning from the Chinese Foreign Ministry came early on Thursday, hours after Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen met with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other lawmakers in California.
‘China firmly opposes and strongly condemns’ the high-profile meeting that took place on American soil, the ministry said in a statement. ‘It seriously infringes upon China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and sends an egregiously wrong signal to the Taiwan independence separatist forces,’ it added. Beijing will take ‘strong and resolute measures’ in response to ‘egregiously wrong action’ taken by Washington and Taipei, the ministry warned. ‘The Taiwan question is at the core of China’s core interests and the first red line that must not be crossed in China-US relations,’ the statement read.” (rt.com 4/6/23)
“Seventy-one Chinese military aircraft crossed the sensitive median line of the Taiwan Strait on Saturday as China began drills around Taiwan in anger at President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The three-day drills, announced the day after Tsai returned from the United States, had been widely expected after Beijing condemned her Wednesday meeting with Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles.” (reuters.com 4/8/23)
“US Congress would authorize a direct military confrontation with China if Beijing launched an attack against Taiwan, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul told Fox News on Friday evening. The Texas Republican representative was talking from Taipei during a three-day bipartisan delegation visit to the self-governing island.
American lawmakers would consent to putting boots on the ground if people in the US support the measure, McCaul said, without elaborating on how exactly such support would be measured. ‘If communist China invaded Taiwan, it would certainly be on the table and something that would be discussed by Congress and with the American people,’ he said, adding that ‘if the American people support this, the Congress will follow.’” (rt.com 4/8/23)
“China has carried out a second day of naval drills around Taiwan, as tensions continue to mount after President Tsai Ing-wen's visit to the US last week. The drills - which Beijing has called a ‘stern warning’ to Taipei - have used naval and air forces to simulate the encirclement of the island.
Taiwan said dozens of Chinese jets flew sorties around the island on Sunday, while nine ships were also spotted. The operation, dubbed ‘Joint Sword’ by Beijing, will continue until Monday. Taiwanese officials have been enraged by the operation, and on Saturday defence officials in Taipei accused Beijing of using Ms Tsai's visit - where she met with US House speaker Kevin McCarthy - as an ‘excuse to conduct military exercises, which has seriously undermined peace, stability and security in the region.’” (bbc.com 4/9/23)
“Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said on Sunday that he is ‘open’ to sending U.S. troops to Taiwan to defend the island, saying that ‘strategic ambiguity’ is not working.
‘So the question for the Congress, should we have a defense agreement with the island of Taiwan? We don’t should we have one?’ he said. ‘But yes, I’d be very much open to using U.S. forces to defend Taiwan, because it’s in our national security interest to do so.’” (thehill.com 4/9/23)
“China's military declared it's ‘ready to fight’ after wrapping up three days of combat drills simulating a blockade to ‘seal off’ Taiwan. The large-scale land and sea exercises follow last week's meeting by Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in the United States. China considers Taiwan a breakaway province and hasn't ruled out taking the self-governed island by force.
The Taiwanese Defense Ministry said on Monday it tracked a record 91 Chinese fighter jets in the final day of the exercises, with dozens of warplanes crossing over the sensitive maritime median line of the Taiwan Strait.” (abcnews.go.com 4/11/23)
“Around 25 U.S. defense contractors plan to send representatives to Taiwan in early May to discuss joint production of drones and ammunition, US Taiwan Business Council President Rupert Hammond-Chambers told Nikkei, as Washington explores various options to help bolster the island's defenses.
The delegation will be led by Steven Rudder, the retired commander of the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific. This would be the first large group of envoys focused specifically on the defense industry to visit Taiwan from the U.S. since 2019.” (asia.nikkei.com 4/11/23)
“Chinese military to prepare for real combat, national media reported on Wednesday. The remarks came days after Beijing held massive military drills around Taiwan which reportedly involved the simulation of precision strikes on the self-governing island.
Addressing military personnel at a navy base in Southern China on Tuesday, Xi called for the strengthening of ‘military training oriented toward actual combat,’ as quoted by the state-run CCTV channel.
The Chinese leader is reported to have named the defense of Beijing’s ‘territorial sovereignty and maritime interests’ as well as the protection of ‘overall peripheral stability’ as the navy’s core mission.” (rt.com 4/12/23)
“The U.S. has reportedly sent more than 200 troops to Taiwan to provide military training to Taiwan's armed forces. In February, the Wall Street Journal cited U.S. officials as saying that 100 to 200 soldiers will be dispatched to Taiwan in the coming months. On Sunday, Up Media quoted military sources as saying the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command has dispatched more than 200 military trainers to Taiwan to assist local forces in training and propose improvements. Among the more than 200 instructors, 80% are from the U.S. army. Most of the American instructors are stationed at new training centers and reserve brigades of Taiwan's Army.” (taiwannews.com.tw 4/17/23)
“The House China Select Committee this week will be war-gaming a scenario in which China invades Taiwan, Axios has learned. Why it matters: It's a unique opportunity that will allow bipartisan members of Congress to walk through the potential challenges and identify the best legislative responses to deter and combat an invasion. Driving the news: On Wednesday evening, bipartisan members of the House panel on China, led by Chair Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), will step into the shoes of U.S. officials in a war-game simulation conducted by the Center for a New American Security, a Washington-based think tank focused on national security.” (axios.com 4/18/23)
“Newly appointed Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu has said that his ongoing visit to Russia is aimed at demonstrating the strength of relations between Beijing and Moscow to the international community. Li arrived in the Russian capital on Sunday for a three-day trip and has already held talks with President Vladimir Putin. On Tuesday, the Chinese minister met with his Russian counterpart Sergey Shoigu at the Russian Defense Ministry’s headquarters in Moscow.
‘After my appointment as the defense minister, my first visit is made to Russia in order to demonstrate to the outside world the high level of Chinese-Russian relations,’ Li said before the beginning of talks. The trip is also intended to stress Beijing’s ‘firm determination to strengthen strategic cooperation between the militaries of China and Russia,’ he added.” (rt.com 4/19/23)
“Toward the end of his speech in the financial hub of Shanghai, [Foreign Minister] Qin Gang turned to what China calls the ‘Taiwan problem,’ using harsher terms than Chinese diplomats have typically employed in past in international settings. ‘The safeguarding of national sovereignty and territorial integrity is beyond reproach,’ Qin said. ‘The Taiwan problem is at the core of China’s core interests,’ he said. ‘We will never back down in the face of any act that undermines China’s sovereignty and security. Those who play with fire on the question of Taiwan will burn themselves.’” (nbcnews.com 4/21/23)
“'A military conflict between China and Taiwan could take place in 2027, the self-governing island’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu has claimed. Appearing on the UK’s LBC radio station on Thursday, Wu said: ‘We are taking the Chinese military threat very seriously… I think 2027 is the year that we need to be serious about.’ He expressed hope that ‘like-minded partners, the UK included, can stop China from initiating any war against Taiwan.’” (rt.com 4/22/23)
“European navies should patrol the disputed Taiwan Strait, the EU foreign policy chief has said, echoing earlier comments stressing how crucial Taiwan is to Europe. Josep Borrell wrote in an opinion piece in the Journal Du Dimanche that Taiwan ‘concerns us economically, commercially and technologically. That’s why I call on European navies to patrol the Taiwan Strait to show Europe’s commitment to freedom of navigation in this absolutely crucial area,’ he wrote.” (theguardian.com 4/23/23)
“China will hold exercises with the practical use of weapons in one of the areas of the East China Sea on Wednesday, the Maritime Safety Administration of China said. According to the statement, the exercises will be held from 11.00 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. local time (from 03:00 to 10:30 GMT). Ships will be barred from entering the area of the drills, the maritime administration said, without providing further details.
The situation around Taiwan has recently escalated once again after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy earlier in April, with Beijing starting massive three-day military exercises near the island in what it called a ‘warning’ for Taiwanese separatists and foreign powers.” (sputnik globe.com 4/26/23)
"There is no military or strategic reason to justify the heavy rearmament of all #European #NATO members," said #PaoloRaffone, stressing that neither #Moscow nor #Beijing are threatening the military bloc and its members. "While #Russia has contiguous territory to the NATO bloc, #China is far away on the planet and cannot possibly be considered as a military threat to European states. Therefore, it is quite clear that the NATO members’ rearmament is dictated by the geostrategic interests of the hegemon power, the United States that is militarizing Europe.” (sputnikglobe.com 5/8/23)
“China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) will thwart any attempts by Taiwanese separatists to isolate themselves from China by means of buying weapons from Washington, Chinese Defense Ministry Spokesperson Senior Colonel Tan Kefei said on Tuesday. The PLA will ramp up its preparations for war, he added.
Commenting on Washington’s plan to supply $500 million worth of weapons to Taipei, Tan said, ‘The PLA continues to intensify military training in preparation for war. We will resolutely crush separatist aspirations for the so-called movement for Taiwan’s independence as well as external attempts at any interference.’” (tass.com 5/16/23)
“Former British PM [Truss] claimed that China is ‘undertaking the biggest military build-up in peacetime history’ and that ‘they have already made their choice about their strategy,’ adding ‘the only choice we have is: do we appease and accommodate that strategy or do we take action now?’
On Taiwan, she called for a ‘more coordinated approach’ so that the island ‘has the defense it needs’ in the face of China’s potential ‘invasion’. She added that Western countries ‘need not to engage in further economic dialogue with China while it takes this aggressive stance.’
According to the Chinese diplomats, ‘By playing the 'Taiwan card' and engaging in political shows, Truss and the like are colluding with the 'Taiwan independence' secessionist forces to provoke confrontation and escalate tensions across the Taiwan Strait. What they did has fully revealed their sinister intentions.’” (sputnikglobe 5/17/23)
“The Pentagon is freaking out about a potential war with China: Chinese planes and rockets blow Taiwan’s navy and air force to smithereens in the wee hours of the morning. The People’s Liberation army and navy launch an overwhelming amphibious assault on the Taiwan Strait. Taking seriously President Joe Biden’s pledge to protect the island, Beijing preemptively strikes U.S. air bases and ships in the Indo-Pacific, and though Washington tries to punch back with sophisticated submarines and stealth bombers, it finds its munitions in the region utterly depleted in just a few days. The U.S. and Japan bleed dozens of ships, hundreds of aircraft and thousands of servicemembers. The Chinese assault shreds Taiwan’s economy, and the U.S., with a shriveled industrial base that pales against China’s ascendant manufacturing power, takes years to rebuild. And that’s assuming the two superpowers don’t go nuclear.” (politico.com 6/9/23)
“The US should respect the One China principle and stop supporting Taiwan’s push for independence from Beijing, Chinese top diplomat Wang Yi has told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. ‘China has no room to compromise or concede’ on the status of Taiwan, Wang told Blinken during a meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing on Monday.
‘The US must truly adhere to the One China principle...respect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and clearly oppose ‘Taiwan independence’, the director of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission office of the Chinese Communist Party was quoted by local media as saying.” (rt.com 6/19/23)
“On Taiwan, I reiterated a longstanding US ‘One China’ policy. That policy has not changed. It’s guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, three joint communiques, the six assurances. We do not support Taiwan independence. We remain opposed to any unilateral changes to the status quo by either side. We continue to expect the peaceful resolution to cross-state differences.” (SecState Blinken during China visit 6/19/23)
“Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged Monday he failed to get China to agree to restart U.S.-China military-to-military communications during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the administration’s long sought-after trip to Beijing.
‘I think it’s absolutely vital that we have these kind of communications, military to military,’ Blinken said at a press conference, noting recent interactions between the U.S. and Chinese military, such as a Chinese fighter jet buzzing a U.S. military plane in late May over the South China Sea.” (breitbart.com 6/19/23)
“U.S. officials said reference to the proposed new training facility in Cuba is contained in highly classified new U.S. intelligence, which they described as convincing but fragmentary. It is being interpreted with different levels of alarm among policy makers and intelligence analysts.
Most worrying for the U.S.: The planned facility is part of China’s ‘Project 141,’ an initiative by the People’s Liberation Army to expand its global military base and logistical support network, one current and one former U.S. official said.
Taiwan is roughly 100 miles from mainland China, about the same distance Cuba is from Florida. China has no combat forces in Latin America, according to U.S. officials. Meanwhile, the U.S. has dozens of military bases throughout the Pacific, where it stations more than 350,000 troops. Chinese officials have pointed this out when they push back on American efforts to counter their military expansion outside of the Indo-Pacific.” (wsj.com 6/20/23)
“China called President Biden’s suggestion that its leader is a dictator ‘extremely absurd and irresponsible’ on Wednesday in an angry response that threatened to undo recent efforts by Secretary of State Antony Blinken to calm tensions between the two superpowers.
Biden referred to Xi Jinping as a dictator while speaking Tuesday at a campaign event, where he said the Chinese leader had been embarrassed by the U.S. downing of a spy balloon because he was unaware it had gone off course.” (washingtonpost.com 6/21/23)
“Taiwan is calling on Australia to send a military attache to the island so that both sides can share their assessment of the situation with China, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu told The Australian media on Sunday.
‘I think it is very important when the Australian government is paying so much more attention to the regional security issues for the two countries to be able to share their observations, their assessment of the situation,’ Wu said in an interview.” (sputnikglobe.com 6/25/23)
“Taiwan has repeated its stance that it would destroy any Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft or vessels if they were to enter a 12 nautical mile zone around the island, Taipei’s military leadership said on Tuesday.
‘If the PLA side continues to ignore our warnings along the way and force their way into our territorial air space and seas, we will actively strike back to safeguard national security,’ Major General Lin Wen-huang, a planning administrator at Taipei’s Ministry of National Defense (MND), said on Tuesday in comments carried by Taiwan’s Central News Agency.” (rt.com 6/27/23)
“The U.S. State Department has approved the potential sale of ammunition and logistics supply support to Taiwan in two separate deals valued at up to $440 million, the Pentagon said on Thursday. Taiwan has asked to purchase 30mm ammunition, including high explosive incendiary-tracer rounds, multi-purpose rounds and training rounds, for an estimated cost of $332.2 million, the Pentagon said.” (reuters.com 6/29/23)
“China's military power is primarily used for strategic deterrence against the US, making it so that although the US has military advantages, it dares not resort to military blackmail against China. In addition, our military power is used to defend core interests, especially when it comes to the resolution of the Taiwan question, we must have the final say. We adopt a defensive military strategy, but in the Taiwan Straits region, we have gradually formed a local absolute military advantage. We will not engage in military confrontation with the US in regions far away from China's core interests. However, if the US military comes to China's nearby waters, especially if it intervenes militarily in the Taiwan Straits and assists the "Taiwanese military" in a possible future Taiwan Straits war, the People's Liberation Army will not hesitate to "beat the crap out of" those US troops. We will always make our determination clear to the US.”(Hu Xijin: global times.cn 6/29/23)
“Severing ties with China would be unwise for the US given the deep economic interdependence between the two countries, CIA Director William Burns warned in a lecture to Britain’s Ditchley Foundation in Oxfordshire on Saturday.
According to Burns, China is the only country in the world ‘with both the intent to reshape the international order and increasingly the economic, diplomatic, military and technological power to do so.’ He suggests that instead of decoupling from Beijing, Washington should instead focus on diversifying its supply chains.” (rt.com 7/2/23)
“Taiwanese military forces have reportedly carried out live-fire drills along the self-governing island’s southern coastline, practicing their response to a possible invasion amid rising fears of a Chinese attack.
The latest exercise featured Taiwanese troops firing missiles from armored vehicles to destroy targets along the shoreline near the far southern tip of the island, Reuters reported on Monday. The troops used camouflaged Humvees and fired US-made TOW anti-tank missiles at stationary targets near the coast.” (rt.com 7/3/23)
“China’s Defense Ministry on Wednesday accused the US of ‘deliberately’ escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait after Washington authorized the sale of $440 million worth of military equipment to Taipei last week.
‘This is tantamount to accelerating the transformation of Taiwan into a ‘powder keg’ and pushing the Taiwanese people into the abyss of disaster,’ Tan Kefei said at a press briefing, according to a statement posted on the ministry’s website. Tan also urged Washington to ‘immediately stop selling arms to Taiwan’ and end ‘any form of US-Taiwan military collusion.’ He also warned that any designs to ‘use force to seek independence’ are ‘doomed to failure.’” (rt.com 7/5/23)
“Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to improve its combat readiness in order to be able to ‘win any war,’ after meeting with the military command responsible for operations in the Taiwan Strait.
Speaking to soldiers at the PLA’s Eastern Theater Command headquarters in Nanjing on Thursday, Xi hailed their ‘significant contributions’ in safeguarding China’s sovereignty and urged for ‘vigilance against potential dangers.’
‘It is imperative for us to deepen planning on war and combat, upgrade the joint system of theater commands, focus on actual combat training and improve our ability to win any war,’ the president said following an inspection of the command headquarters.” (rt.com 7/7/23)
“The Chinese government has urged NATO not to expand into the Asia-Pacific, warning that it would retaliate to any increased Western military presence in the region after the alliance criticized Beijing during its summit in Lithuania.
China’s Mission to the European Union issued a statement on Tuesday in response to NATO’s joint communique, which accused Beijing of pursuing ‘coercive policies’ that ‘challenge’ Western interests.
‘The China-related content of the communique disregards basic facts, wantonly distorts China's position and policies, and deliberately discredits China. We firmly oppose and reject this,’ the Chinese diplomats said.
The statement went on to pledge that Beijing would ‘safeguard its sovereignty’ and oppose ‘NATO's eastward expansion into the Asia-Pacific.’ It added that ‘any actions that damage China's legitimate rights and interests will be met with a resolute response.’” (rt.com 7/12/23)
“Beijing strongly opposes plans by deputy head of the Taiwanese administration Lai Qingde to transit the US, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said at a briefing on Wednesday.
‘China strongly opposes any sort of official communication between Taiwan and the US,’ she said in response to a Western journalist’s question about whether Beijing planned to hold drills in the Taiwan Strait or take similar measures in protest. ‘We are strongly opposed to separatist elements, who represent the so-called Taiwan independence movement, making transit visits to the United States for whatever reason and purpose,’ Mao Ning said. ‘We insist that the US should abide by the one-China principle,’ the Chinese diplomat added.” (tass.com 7/19/23)
“Ammunition shortages laid bare by the Ukraine conflict have prompted some US think-tanks to check on stockpiles in the West and find them wanting, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday. The military industry of NATO allies is not able to help, either.
A Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) wargame of a conflict with China over Taiwan showed that the US had only about 450 long-range anti-ship missiles, enough for about a week.
Another think tank, the Center for New American Security (CNAS), said the existing missile inventory is ‘too small to blunt an initial invasion, let alone prevail in a protracted conflict against China.’ To deter and defeat Beijing, the Pentagon ‘needs large stockpiles of stand-off missiles, maritime strike weapons, and layered air and missile defenses,’ CNAS concluded.” (rt.com 7/20/23)
“On July 20, the joint Russo-Chinese naval exercise ‘North/Interaction – 2023’ kicked off in the Sea of Japan. The exercise is expected to be held until July 23, with the Russian Ministry of Defense saying that the primary goal of this drill is to improve the naval cooperation between Russia and China, as well as to help maintain peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific Region.” (sputnikglobe.com 7/20/23)
“China sent dozens of warplanes, including fighter jets and bombers, toward Taiwan, the island's Defense Ministry said Saturday, marking a forceful display days before the democracy plans to hold military exercises aimed at defending itself against a possible invasion.
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army sent 37 aircraft and seven navy vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Saturday, the ministry said in a statement. Among them were J-10 and J-16 fighters and H-6 bombers, and 22 of the detected warplanes crossed the midline of the Taiwan Strait — an unofficial boundary that had been considered a buffer between the island and mainland — or entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone near its southern part, the statement said.” (yahoo.com 7/22/23)
“China will ‘take all necessary measures to safeguard national security’ against American spy networks, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a press briefing on Monday. More than a decade after its Chinese operations were blown, the CIA is currently active in the country once again.
‘The US on the one hand keeps spreading disinformation on so-called ‘Chinese spying and cyber attacks and on the other hand tells the public about its large-scale intelligence activities targeting China,’ Mao told reporters.’This in itself is quite revealing. China will take all measures necessary to safeguard national security.’” (rt.com 7/24/23)
“Washington provides $345 million worth of military aid to Taiwan, US President Joe Biden said in a statement published Friday. ‘By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, […] I hereby delegate to the Secretary of State […] to direct the drawdown of up to $345 million in defense articles and services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training, to provide assistance to Taiwan,’ the statement reads.
ABC reported citing its sources, the military aid will be provided from the US Defense Department reserves. The package will include man-portable air defense systems, missiles, reconnaissance and observation equipment. The TV channel pointed out that this is the first time that the Biden Administration decided to ship a major military aid package to Taiwan from the US’ own defense stockpile.” (tass.com 7/28/23)
“Washington’s recent approval of a $345 million military aid package for Taipei only serves to transform the island into an 'ammunition depot,' China said on Saturday. Beijing considers Taiwan to be part of its sovereign territory.
'No matter how much of the ordinary people’s taxpayer money the… Taiwanese separatist forces spend, no matter how many US weapons, it will not shake our resolve to solve the Taiwan problem,' Chen Binhua, spokesperson for Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said in a statement. 'Or shake our firm will to realize the reunification of our motherland.' Chen added that Washington’s continued military assistance is 'turning Taiwan into a powder keg and ammunition depot, aggravating the threat of war in the Taiwan Strait.' (rt.com 7/30/23)
“The White House is going to ask the US Congress to fund the arming of the island of Taiwan via the Ukraine budget in order to speed up weapons transfers to Taipei, as per Western media. The request followed the Biden administration's announcement that the US would deliver $345 million worth of weapons to the island through a mechanism known as the ‘presidential drawdown authority.’ The mechanism has long been used by the US to send arms to Ukraine.” (sputnikglobe.com 8/3/23)
“China’s Foreign Ministry has condemned a visit to the United States on Saturday by Taiwan’s Vice President William Lai, and vowed that it will retaliate. In a statement, Beijing reiterated its opposition to any form of diplomatic communication between Washington and Taipei.
In a release issued by an unnamed Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Sunday, Beijing said it ‘firmly opposes any visit by Taiwan independence separatists to the US in any name or under whatever pretext.’ It added that Lai is a ‘troublemaker through and through’ and that his arrival in the United States ‘seriously violates the One China principle’ and ‘gravely undermines China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.’ It added that ‘China is closely following the developments’ and that ‘resolute and strong measures’ will be taken to protect the national interest.” (rt.com 8/13/23)
“The Chinese air force and navy conducted joint patrols and exercises around Taiwan on Saturday as a warning to the ‘separatist forces of the island,’ Shi Yi, the spokesman for the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), said.
The drills came after Taiwanese Vice President and presidential candidate Lai Ching-te wrapped up his trip to Paraguay, during which made transit stops in New York and San Francisco. China has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the transit through the United States and condemned Lai's visit to the country.” (sputnikglobe.com 8/21/23)
“The State Department has approved the sale of infrared search and track systems and other equipment for US-made F-16 jet fighters to Taiwan. The proposed deal worth $500 million was greenlighted on Wednesday, as tensions continue between Washington and Beijing, which considers Taiwan its territory.
According to a statement from the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the package includes spare parts, software, ‘aircraft and munitions support,’ and training equipment. Taiwan also requested ‘US government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services,’ the agency added. ‘The proposed sale will help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region,’ the DSCA said.” (rt.com 8/24/23)
“The British Parliament’s Foreign Policy Committee has described Taiwan as ‘already an independent country, under the name Republic of China (ROC).’ The snub to Beijing, which claims sovereignty over the self-administered island, came as UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly arrived in China for a visit intended to mend relations.
The comment on Taiwan was included in a report on the UK’s Indo-Pacific strategy published on Wednesday. The committee’s chairperson, Alicia Kearns, told Politico that it was the first time in recent history that British MPs had openly supported Taiwan’s claims of statehood in a formal document. ‘We acknowledge China’s position, but we… do not accept it,’ Kearns said. She added that Foreign Secretary Cleverly should ‘steadfastly and vocally stand by Taiwan.’” (rt.com 8/30/23)
“‘The crisis in Ukraine has sounded the alarm for mankind, and similar tragedies must not be staged in Asia,’ Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday in a video address at a think tank conference hosted by the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia in Jakarta. ‘We must promote regional security through dialogue and cooperation and oppose seeking absolute security at the expense of other countries.’
Yi warned of a ‘backstage manipulator’ – apparently referring to the US – that is fanning the flames of controversy over South China Sea territorial disputes. ‘This black hand hiding behind the scenes must be exposed,’ he said. ‘China is always willing to work with relevant countries to properly resolve differences through dialogue and seek effective ways to control the maritime situation.’” (rt.com 9/4/23)
“Ambitions of NATO and other military blocs created by the Western nations might pose threats to the security of the Asia-Pacific Region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday. The NATO expansion of its forces into the region might particularly lead to its militarization, he told the 18th East Asia Summit (EAS) held in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The US-led military bloc makes efforts ‘to install its forces and infrastructure,’ the minister said, according to a statement released by the Russian Foreign Ministry in the wake of the meeting. NATO is seeking to introduce its mechanisms for network deterrence into the area, he added.
According to Lavrov, another Western-led project – AUKUS – also poses a significant threat to Asia Pacific’s security. The trilateral pact between Australia, the US and the UK ‘provides for the deployment of a military strategic complex with a nuclear component in the region,’ the minister said, while also calling the project ‘confrontational.’” (rt.com 9/7/23)
“The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has pitched an economic-integration plan for Taiwan, while at the same time deploying a historically large fleet of warships and aircraft surrounding the self-governing island.
Released on Tuesday by the CCP’s Central Committee and Beijing’s State Council, the proposal was touted as a ‘blueprint’ for Taiwan’s future development. Under the plan, the coastal province of Fujian would become a ‘demonstration zone’ for the integrated development of Taiwan.
The proposal calls for allowing Taiwanese residents to live, work, and study on the mainland, initially in Fujian. Taiwanese businesses would also be allowed to hang a shingle in the neighboring province and would be encouraged to list their shares on Chinese stock exchanges.” (rt.com 9/13/23)
“Last week, China's top diplomat, Wang Yi, met Biden for an hour in talks the White House described as a ‘good opportunity’ to keep open lines of communication between the two rivals. Despite the conciliatory remarks about improving China-U.S. military ties, Zhang and some Chinese military officers gave no sign of a softer stance on issues such as Taiwan, which Beijing's regards as its territory.
Chinese Lieutenant-General He Lei, speaking at a panel on Sunday, said that if China were to have to use force against Taiwan, ‘it will be a war for reunification, a just and legitimate war.’” (voanews.com 10/30/23)
“For China, nuclear weapons are only a strategic tool used to rule out the possibility of nuclear strikes or blackmail against China by external forces. All of China's national defense and security plans, including the use of force as a last resort to resolve the Taiwan question, are designed at the level of conventional weapons. The role of nuclear weapons is very latent, it is meant to deter external forces from adding nuclear weapons to shape the war situation.” (globaltimes.cn 11/2/23)
While Biden & Xi meet in San Francisco for the APEC summit: “The Chinese army will conduct military exercises in South China Sea from November 14-18, the China Maritime Safety Administration announced on Monday.” (sputnikglobe.com 11/13/23)
“The United States is a heartbeat away from a world war that it could lose. There are serious conflicts requiring U.S. attention in two of the world’s three most strategically important regions. Should China decide to launch an attack on Taiwan, the situation could quickly escalate into a global war on three fronts, directly or indirectly involving the United States. The hour is late, and while there are options for improving the U.S. position, they all require serious effort and inevitable trade-offs. It’s time to move with real urgency to mobilize the United States, its defenses, and its allies for what could become the world crisis of our time.” (foreignpolicy.com 11/16/23)
“During his four-hour meeting with President Joe Biden on Wednesday (Nov. 15), Chinese leader Xi Jinping (習近平) said Taiwan is the ‘most important and sensitive issue,’ but reportedly denied there is a plan to invade Taiwan in 2027.
A senior U.S. official was cited by Reuters as saying that during the meeting, Xi expressed Beijing's preference for peaceful annexation of Taiwan. Xi also laid out the conditions under which force would be employed against Taiwan, but the official did not specify what these were.
Biden reportedly responded by reiterating Washington's long-held ‘determination to maintain peace and stability.’ However, Xi replied, ‘Look, peace is...all well and good but at some point, we need to move towards resolution more generally,’ according to the official.” (taiwannews.com.tw 11/16/23)
“Speaking at an event hosted by the New York Times on Thursday, Tsai Ing-wen said the chances for war remained low, citing both strong international support for Taiwan and reluctance by Beijing, given its ‘economic and financial as well as political challenges.’
‘I think the Chinese leadership at this juncture is overwhelmed by its internal challenges. And my thought is that perhaps this is not a time for them to consider a major invasion of Taiwan,’ she said, adding that ‘the international community has made it loud and clear that war is not an option, and peace and stability serves everybody's interests.’” (rt.com 12/1/23)
“Chinese President Xi Jinping told President Joe Biden directly at their recent summit that China will reunify with Taiwan, sources confirmed to ABC News. It was unclear whether Beijing plans to use force in its effort to reunify with Taiwan, but Xi indicated they will try at first to do so peacefully, the sources said. Xi has said as much publicly but what is noteworthy is that he said this so bluntly to the president at a summit intended to thaw their relations.” (abcnews.com 12/20/23)
“China's defence ministry lashed out at the United States on Thursday, a week after their top military officials resumed high-level talks, criticising its continued meddling in the Asia Pacific region and saying it maintained a ‘Cold War’ mindset.
‘The United States continues to strengthen its Asia-Pacific deployments, this is full of a Cold War mindset," the spokesperson, Wu Qian, said on Thursday. Its goal is for its own selfish gains and to maintain its hegemony. Its nature is to stoke confrontation.’” (reuters.com 12/28/23)
War with China, Thinking Through the Unthinkable: “Premeditated war between the United States and China is very unlikely, but the danger that a mishandled crisis could trigger hostilities cannot be ignored. Thus, while neither state wants war, both states' militaries have plans to fight one. As Chinese anti-access and area-denial (A2AD) capabilities improve, the United States can no longer be so certain that war would follow its plan and lead to decisive victory. This analysis illuminates various paths a war with China could take and their possible consequences.” (rand.org)
"‘The motherland will surely be reunified,’ Xi said in his televised speech to the nation.‘Compatriots on both sides of the (Taiwan) Strait should be bound by a common sense of purpose to share in the glory of national rejuvenation,’ he added.
Ties with China are also one of the key issues of the presidential campaign in Taiwan. The race is currently led by the island's vice-president William Lai. China views Lai, from the ruling Democratic People's Party, as a ‘separatist’ and has accused him and Taiwan's outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen of trying to provoke a Chinese attack on the island. Taiwanese leaders have repeatedly accused China of election interference and misinformation. In turn, Beijing dismissed their claims as ‘hype.’” (dw.com 12/31/23)
“China will continue to deepen trust and mutually beneficial strategic cooperation with Russia, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday.
‘Between cooperation and confrontation, we unwaveringly choose cooperation. The relationship between major powers impacts global stability and China has always believed that major powers should have high aspirations and bear great responsibility,’ Wang Yi said as he addressed a seminar in Beijing on the international situation and China’s foreign relations in 2023.
‘We continue to deepen comprehensive strategic cooperation between China and Russia, promote the further development of our countries, support the world's movement towards multipolarity, and promote the democratization of international relations,’ China’s top diplomat stated.” (sputnikglobe.com 1/9/2024)
“A long-time vocal advocate of independence, Taiwan’s vice president Lai Ching-te, a key figure in the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), has won the country’s presidential elections and takes office in May. Beijing has branded him a ‘troublemaker. Destroyer of peace across the Taiwan Strait’
The outcome of the vote could further heighten tensions with China, which claims the self-governing island as part of its territory. Beijing had warned voters against supporting Lai and previously described this election as a choice between ‘war and peace, prosperity and decline.’ The rival Kuomintang party pushed for dialogue with mainland authorities.
‘Regardless of the result, it will not change the basic fact that Taiwan is part of China and there is only one China in the world,’ a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in the UK said, reacting to the election results.” (rt.com 1/13/24)
“Taiwan's defense ministry reported on Wednesday the presence of 18 Chinese air force planes engaged in ‘joint combat readiness patrols’ around Taiwan.
This marks the first significant military activity after Lai Ching-te from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party got elected for the presidency. The politician has long been viewed as a dangerous separatist by Beijing authorities, who have been working to reunify the nation.
Starting around 7:50 pm (1150 GMT) on Wednesday, the Taiwanese defense ministry said it detected 18 aircrafts, including Su-30 fighters, operating off northern and central Taiwan and the island's southwest.” (english.almayadeen.net 1/17/24)
“Russia and China should cooperate closely to ensure security and resolutely oppose any external interference in internal affairs, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday.
"The countries should carry out close strategic cooperation in order to protect their state sovereignty, security and development interests, and resolutely resist interference by external forces in internal affairs," Xi said in a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as cited by the state-run China Central Television (CCTV) broadcaster.
China is ready to strengthen cooperation with Russia at the international multilateral level and advocate for inclusive economic globalization, Xi added.” (sputnikglobe.com 2/8/24)
“On remote islands near Taiwan, the presence of American special forces has been confirmed, according to Focus Taiwan. Taiwan's Minister of Defense, Chiu Kuo-cheng, confirmed that US Army Special Forces are stationed on remote islands near Taiwan. He said their presence was part of an exchange and was meant to be a ‘learning opportunity’ for Taiwan's armed forces.
The Defense Minister made these remarks after journalists in the corridors of a legislative hearing asked him to comment on recent media reports that US Army Special Forces, widely known as the "Green Berets," were training Taiwanese troops in Kinmen and Penghu.
Chiu said that the US presence aims to help Taiwan's armed forces identify any weaknesses or blind spots and allow them to participate in exchanges with friendly teams or countries.
According to the report, these deployments were made in accordance with the US National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023.” (msn.com 3/15/24)
“Dozens of Chinese warplanes and multiple naval ships were reported around the island of Taiwan this week, the largest coordinated display this year.
At least 30 planes and nine ships were detected in Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) by the country's Ministry of National Defense (MND).
‘30 PLA aircraft and 9 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 20 of the aircraft entered Taiwan’s northern, middle line, and SW ADIZ,’ the Taiwanese MND announced via social media. ‘[Republic of China Armed Forces] have monitored the situation and employed appropriate force to respond.’" (foxnews.com 4/3/24)
“U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has begun a critical trip to China armed with a strengthened diplomatic hand following Senate approval of a foreign aid package that will provide billions of dollars in assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan as well as force TikTok’s China-based parent company to sell the social media platform -– all areas of contention between Washington and Beijing.
Of primary interest to China, the bill sets aside $8 billion to counter Chinese threats in Taiwan and the broader Indo-Pacific and gives China’s ByteDance nine months to sell TikTok with a possible three-month extension if a sale is in progress. China has railed against U.S. assistance to Taiwan, which it regards as a renegade province, and immediately condemned the move as a dangerous provocation.
Even before Blinken landed in Shanghai — where he will have meetings before traveling to Beijing — China’s Taiwan Affairs Office slammed the assistance to Taipei, saying it ‘seriously violates’ U.S. commitments to China, ‘sends a wrong signal to the Taiwan independence separatist forces’ and pushes the self-governing island republic into a ‘dangerous situation.’” (abcnews.go.com 4/24/24)
The US should choose to stand on the right side of history,” (Foreign Minister Wang Yi 9/22/22)
© 2022 James B. Angell All Rights Reserved
Wow, what a twisted tale. Always good to read your accounts. It seems to me that the US should avoid entanglements that it is not wholly and thoroughly committed to winning at all costs. So, think of Taiwan as the next potential Afghanistan, and against an unbelievably more numerous and advanced foe than the Taliban...
Always learnng hopefully. I just finished a Hero of Two Worlds, biography of Lafayette. The later part of his life i did know very well. What a ride.