China could mount full scale invasion of Taiwan by 2025

[Nanotechandmorefuture]

Add a few years 2029 maybe I think 2039 so who knows. If the similar things occurring as 100 years ago are to be roughly followed then 2030 should have artificial intelligence creating the demand for war as a service by 2040 for some. Battlefield 2042 shows a world war after all and that is not that far away.

[caltrek]

China "Not Fearful of War" Over Senkakus
December 9, 2023

Introduction:

(Kyodo News) A senior Chinese military officer said in a recent interview with Kyodo News that Beijing does not want a war over the Tokyo-controlled Senkaku Islands claimed by China in the East China Sea, but is "not fearful" of armed conflict.

Lt. Gen. He Lei, a former vice president of the People's Liberation Army Academy of Military Sciences, also indicated the possibility that China will target the Senkakus, which it calls Diaoyu, as well if it attempts to capture Taiwan, a self-ruled democratic island, through the use of force.

The rare reference by a senior Chinese military officer to a possible war over the Senkaku Islands suggests Beijing's determination to gain control of the territory that Japan brought under state control in 2012.

The academy makes policy proposals to the PLA. He criticized Tokyo for purchasing the islands from Japanese private hands, stressing that Beijing will "firmly protect its national territory, sovereignty and maritime interests" if the Japanese side continues its "provocations."

Tokyo should not underestimate the Chinese military's "strong will, resolve and power" to safeguard national sovereignty, safety and territorial integrity, He warned.

The article goes on to tie the subject into threats against Taiwan by mainland China.

Read more here: https://english.kyodonews.net/news/202 ... cer.html

[wjfox]

Xi warned Biden during summit that Beijing will reunify Taiwan with China

Dec. 20, 2023, 10:00 AM GMT

Chinese President Xi Jinping bluntly told President Joe Biden during their recent summit in San Francisco that Beijing will reunify Taiwan with mainland China but that the timing has not yet been decided, according to three current and former U.S. officials.

Xi told Biden in a group meeting attended by a dozen American and Chinese officials that China’s preference is to take Taiwan peacefully, not by force, the officials said.

The Chinese leader also referenced public predictions by U.S. military leaders who say that Xi plans to take Taiwan in 2025 or 2027, telling Biden that they were wrong because he has not set a time frame, according to the two current and one former official briefed on the meeting.

Chinese officials also asked in advance of the summit that Biden make a public statement after the meeting saying that the United States supports China’s goal of peaceful unification with Taiwan and does not support Taiwanese independence, they said. The White House rejected the Chinese request.

[...]

Xi’s private warning to Biden, while not markedly different from his past public comments on reunifying Taiwan, got the attention of U.S. officials because it was delivered at a time when China’s behavior toward Taiwan is seen as increasingly aggressive and ahead of a potentially pivotal presidential election in the self-governing democratic island next month.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/china/xi-w ... rcna130087

[raklian]

Xi warned Biden during summit that Beijing will reunify Taiwan with China

Dec. 20, 2023, 10:00 AM GMT

It is a good bet President Biden told President Xi the United States will defend Taiwan.

[weatheriscool]

[weatheriscool]

[caltrek]

Taiwan to Receive 66 F-16V Fighters in Next 2 Years
by Keoni Everington,
January 4, 2024

Introduction:

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan will receive 66 F-16V Block 70 fighter jets over the next two years and the Air Force will send 65 pilots this year to the U.S. for training.

A source told Liberty Times on Dec. 31 that the Air Force is going to receive the first batch of new 66 F-16V Block 70 jets this year and the order is to be completed by 2026. According to the Ministry of National Defense's (MND) budget for 2024, 65 pilots will be sent to the U.S. for a full year of specialized tactical training this year.

As part of its efforts to bolster Air Force combat power to counter China's growing fleet of fighter jets, the MND spent more than NT$140.2 billion (US$4.56 billion) to upgrade 140 F-16V Block 20 fighters, a project that was completed last year. In 2019, the U.S. agreed to sell Taiwan 66 F-16V Block 70 fighters.

Read more here: https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5071549

[wjfox]

Taiwan elects Lai Ching-te, from incumbent pro-sovereignty party, as president

Sat 13 Jan 2024 13.33 GMT

Taiwan has voted for Lai Ching-te to be its next president, ushering in a historic third term in power for the pro-sovereignty Democratic Progressive party (DPP), in a result that will anger Beijing and heighten tensions across the Taiwan strait.

The victory of Lai, who since 2020 had served as vice-president to Tsai Ing-wen, marks the continuation of a government that promoted a sovereign Taiwan and a national identity separate to China, and oversaw some of the deepest cross-strait tensions in decades as Beijing pushed towards its goal of annexation.

Early results showed Lai had won more than 40% of the vote, ahead of Hou You-yi from the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), and a third placed Taiwan People’s party. Pre-election polls had shown Lai with a much narrower lead.

Shortly after being announced as Taiwan’s president-elect, Lai said it was a “victory for the community of democracies” around the world. He said voters had successfully resisted efforts from “external forces” to influence the election, in reference to Beijing’s efforts to have the DPP ousted.

“Taiwanese people have the right to choose their own president,” he said.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/ ... l-election

[firestar464]

Goddamn plurality system

[caltrek]

Election Winner Lai Ching-te: Taiwan Achieved a Victory for Democracy
by Matthew Strong
January 13, 2024

Introduction:

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan achieved a victory for democracy and successfully blocked foreign interference, presidential election winner Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said Saturday (Jan. 13).

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate received more than 5.5 million votes, or 40%, with Kuomintang (KMT) candidate Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) receiving 4.6 million votes or 33%, and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chair Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) ending with 3.6 million votes or 26%. Lai’s victory was the first time the same party had won three consecutive presidential elections since direct votes started in 1996.

The significance of the election result was threefold, he said in his victory speech:

1. Taiwan had told the world it stood on the side of democracy in the struggle between authoritarianism and democracy, per CNA.

2. Voters took action to prevent foreign interference because everyone believed in the message that people needed to choose their own president.

3. The result showed that the country was moving ahead in the right direction, and would not deviate from its path or turn back.

Further Extract:

Revealing that he had received congratulatory phone calls from his two rivals, he said he hoped their parties would all cooperate at the new Legislative Yuan for the benefit of the nation.

Read more here: https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5077732