China could mount full scale invasion of Taiwan by 2025

[caltrek]

Taiwan Election of Vice President Lai as New Leader – A Rebuke to China
by Taejun Kang and Elaine Chan
January 14, 2024

Introduction:

(Eurasia Review) Hou (Yu-ih of the Kuomintang, or KMT) Beijing’s preferred candidate, conceded the election by saying he respects the final choice that the Taiwanese people made.

“I would not only like to extend my congratulations to Lai Ching-te and Hsiao Bi-khim [Lai’s running mate] for being elected, but also hope that they will live up to Taiwanese people’s expectations of a ruling party,” said Hou, calling for all parties to unite, and urged the DPP (Democratic Progressive Party) to build a new and efficient government that Taiwan could trust.

Separately, Ko (Wen-je of Taiwan’s People’s Party, or TPP) noted that despite the defeat, the election has turned the TPP into a significant force, highlighting a positive outcome from the setback.

“Every vote represented an endorsement of us. This is also the first time in Taiwan, amid the blue-green [KMT-DPP] structure, that a three-party situation has emerged. It shows that Taiwan needs another voice.”
…
Taiwanese also voted for representatives in the 113-seat legislature. As of 09:10 p.m. local time none of the seats had been officially declared but Lai acknowledged that the DPP had failed to hold onto a majority

Read more here: https://www.eurasiareview.com/14012024 ... nalysis/

[caltrek]

China Expected to Ramp Up Military Intimidation Against Taiwan
by Kelvin Chen
January 16, 2024

Introduction:

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — China will continue to increase intimidation against Taiwan through various means, defense ministry intelligence officer Huang Ming-chieh (黃明傑) said on Tuesday (Jan. 16).

The Chinese military will continue to increase its intimidation against Taiwan through routine military exercises and patrols, combined with cognitive warfare and grey zone tactics, Huang said, according to RTI. Since New Year's Day, China has continuously engaged in provocative actions, including releasing balloons into Taiwan's airspace, he said.

However, Taiwan’s military can consistently monitor and respond to these incidents appropriately, he added.

Regarding the ministry’s revised graphic of Chinese military activities around the Taiwan Strait, Huang said the change was to clearly depict the movements of China’s military assets, making it easier for the public to focus on and understand the situation around the region.

Defense Ministry spokesperson Shih Li-fang (孫立方) emphasized that Taiwan's national security environment is constantly changing, and the threat from the enemy varies daily, referring to China. The enemy often combines military actions with cognitive warfare, attempting to negatively influence the morale and sentiment of the Taiwanese, Shih said.

Read more here: https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5079356

[wjfox]

[firestar464]

Undoubtedly they'll practice it; though whether they'll actually carry it out is another question.

This will depend on how ROC politics develops (poor performance by the president-elect will flush the island further down the shitter), as well as American will and ability to guarantee the safety of the ROC

[wjfox]

China’s Xi Jinping says ‘no force’ can stop ‘reunion’ with Taiwan

April 10, 2024 5:40 pm

Amid heightened tensions between China and Taiwan, Chinese President Xi Jinping told a former Taiwanese president who supports unification that the countries “belong” together.

“Differences in systems cannot change the fact that both sides of the Taiwan Straits belong to the same country and nation,” Xi said.

“External interference cannot stop the historical trend of reunion of the country and family,” Xi said, in comments reported by Taiwanese media and published by Reuters.

“There is no rancour that cannot be resolved, no problem that cannot be discussed, and no force that can separate us.”

Ma Ying-jeou, who led Taiwan from 2008 until 2016, replied by saying a new war between the two countries would be “an unbearable burden for the Chinese nation.”

https://globalnews.ca/news/10414243/chi ... jinping-2/