China’s policies regarding Hong Kong, the creation of island military bases in the South China Sea, and Taiwan lead to tension in the geopolitical world, and tension increased significantly over the weekend.
The Daily Mail reports that “Almost 150 Chinese warplanes have breached Taiwan’s airspace since Friday, including 56 jets on Monday in a dramatic escalation of Chinese aggression against the self-governing democracy.”
Taiwan, Australia, and Japan have criticized China’s military maneuvers. Taiwan’s leaders have referred to them as provocative.
In a report by the Daily Wire, statements denouncing China’s military maneuvers were met with a strong response by the CCP: “The strategic collusion between the US and Japan and the DPP authorities is becoming more audacious, and the situation across the Taiwan Straits has almost lost any room for maneuver teetering on the edge of a face-off, creating a sense of urgency that the war may be triggered at any time.”
China’s claims of sovereignty over the region are clear. With specific regard to Taiwan, China’s position is that it has a historic territorial claim to Taiwan and considers any move toward independence an act of rebellion. The Global Times reporded this statement by Chinese officials: “The secessionist forces on the island will never be allowed to secede Taiwan from China under whatever names or by whatever means…”
The US has supported independence efforts through economic support and alliances. Recently, America has led in forming an 8-nation pact to “construct appropriate and coordinated responses and help craft a proactive and strategic approach on issues related to the People’s Republic of China.” Members of the alliance include the U.S., Germany, U.K., Japan, Australia, Canada, Sweden, Norway, and members of the European parliament. Chinese officials state the US-led pact threatens peace and is an intrusion into matters of internal affairs.
Taking a threatening tone, the state-run Global Times wrote: “The curtain of preparations for a comprehensive military struggle by the Chinese mainland has obviously been drawn open.” The paper also referenced “earnest preparations [for the] possibility of combat” and warned that US-led support of independence movements in the region could trigger war. The statement concluded with the phrase, “this is not just a verbal threat.”
On Tuesday, President Joe Biden said, “‘I’ve spoken with Xi about Taiwan. We agree…we’ll abide by the Taiwan agreement.”
Reuters reports that Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen released a statement noting that democratic countries “…should remember that if Taiwan were to fall, the consequences would be catastrophic for regional peace and the democratic alliance system. It would signal that in today’s global contest of values, authoritarianism has the upper hand over democracy.”
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