China Wants to Take Taiwan 'Without a Fight,' Says Defense Report

[bonnie1962]

Is this where our fearless leader gets a big stick ad says....The response of the west could be more muted if China only makes a minor incursion into Taiwan  or they will face the same crippling sanctions that Russia did?  So far his response is his typical no response and a trip some where else. Perhaps his devoted followers and lap dog media should pay attention to what is going on around us as Biden doesn"t seem to

 

 

 

 

WORLD

China Wants to Take Taiwan 'Without a Fight,' Says Defense Report

BY JOHN FENG ON 11/9/21 AT 11:27 AM EST

 

 

China is continuing an expansive military buildup as part of a multifaceted campaign to frighten Taiwan into submission and capture the island without firing a single shot.

That was the assessment Taiwan provided on Tuesday in publishing its 2021 National Defense Report, a biennial government document that has been tracking the shifting power balance across the Taiwan Strait for the last three decades.

In a report that echoed many of the observations and concerns raised in Japan's own defense white paper in July, Taiwan described the People's Republic of China (PRC) as having ambitions that reach far beyond the so-called first island chain, the frontline of the American alliance system and its maritime deterrent.

 

In a foreword for the report, Taiwan Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said the democratic island was caught in the middle of the "strategic competition" taking place between the United States and the PRC, with the latter "leveraging its comprehensive national power to expand geopolitical influence."

Chiu, the country's former head of intelligence who was appointed defense chief in a February reshuffle, said Taiwan had demonstrated "unquestionable determination and ability" to defend itself, but for the first time openly noted the critical role that Taipei's allies could play in preventing a cross-strait conflict.

Chiu said only "a collective power" could keep peace in the region. "Therefore, it is hoped that regional partners and like-minded countries can jointly promote security cooperation and shoulder the responsibility to maintain a sustainable development in the region."

 

The defense white paper said the PRC "has never renounced the option of the use of force against Taiwan"—a point regularly enforced by Chinese leader Xi Jinping himself as well as government spokespeople. The People's Liberation Army—the armed wing of China's ruling Communist Party—continues to conduct military exercises in preparation for an invasion, and for the purposes of threatening Taiwan, said the report.

Chief among Taiwan's most pressing defense concerns are activities that fall under the category of "gray zone," actions that harass, pressure and coerce, but ultimately fall short of war. The Defense Ministry document puts the PLA's routine air force operations near the island, its intensifying training exercises in the neighboring waters and the PRC's military intimidation at the top of the list.

"The gray zone threats frequently posed by the PRC on us are orchestrated generally through military and non-military approaches which have exploited the limbo between peace and war," the report said. "It attempts to consume our combat power and shake our faith and morale to ultimately achieve its goal of 'seizing Taiwan without a fight.'"

[bonnie1962]

 

Macron sparks fury for saying Europe shouldn't follow US over China and Taiwan dispute

Emmanuel Macron made the comments following the conclusion of a site visit to China last week, which included a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

 

By PAUL WITHERS

16:44, Mon, Apr 10, 2023 | UPDATED: 17:03, Mon, Apr 10, 2023

 

 

 

Emmanuel Macron has sparked furious backlash after saying Europe must not be a "follower" of the agenda from the USA when it comes to getting dragged into the potentially volatile dispute between China and Taiwan. The controversial remarks from the French President come after the conclusion of a three-day state visit to China last week, which included meeting his counterpart Xi Jinping. Mr Macron said: "The question Europeans need to answer is the following: is it in our interest to accelerate [a crisis] in Taiwan? No.

"The worst thing would be to think that we Europeans must become followers on this topic and take our cue from the US agenda and a Chinese overreaction."

 

In a quote from Les Echos newspaper, he was also reported as saying: "We Europeans need to wake up. Our priority is not to adapt to the agenda of others in all regions of the world."

But the remarks have sparked a furious reaction from many at a time when tensions between China and Taiwan are approaching boiling point.

Nile Gardiner, a Washington-based foreign policy expert and former aide to Lady Margaret Thatcher, raged on Twitter: "Emmanuel Macron is acting as Beijing's useful idiot. His appeasement of China is an embarrassment to France."

Dr Malcolm Davis, senior analyst from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said Mr Macron's comments were "ill-conceived at best, and poorly timed" given the situation in Ukraine, and the need for Europe and the US to support Kyiv together.

He commented: "He’s dramatically weakened trans-Atlantic unity in the face of a determined challenge from Moscow and Beijing, by promoting his concept strategic autonomy for Europe (with France leading of course – I wonder what the Germans must think?) and in doing so weakened NATO."

The expert warned Mr Macron has "given Xi Jinping and the CCP a huge boost to their perception that western liberal democracies are weak and divided".

German foreign policy scholar and China-watcher Ulrich Speck also wrote on Twitter: "What Macron says about Taiwan - the core security theme in the Indo-Pacific - vindicates the Australian decision to cancel the submarine deal with France and to create AUKUS with the UK and the US."

 

US Republican senator Marco Rubio said in a video message on Twitter: "We need to ask Europe, does he speak for them, because we’re pretty heavily involved in Ukraine right now, we’re spending a lot of our taxpayer money on a European war.

"And I’ve supported that because I think that’s in the national interest to the United States to be allies to our allies.

"But if our allies’ position, if in fact Macron speaks for all of Europe, and their position now is they’re not going to pick sides between the US and China over Taiwan, maybe we shouldn’t be picking sides either?

"Maybe we should say we’re going to be focusing on Taiwan and the threats that China poses and you guys handle Ukraine and Europe."