Stepping into a political pissing match (i.e. this thread) is risky business, but it is clearly true that China has been acting very aggressive towards Taiwan lately. Can't we all just get along, and start pissing on China? (Yeah, I know, I obviously do not have a future in stand up comedy)
>>>BEIJING/TAIPEI, Aug 17 (Reuters) - China carried out assault drills near Taiwan on Tuesday, with warships and fighter jets exercising off the southwest and southeast of the island in what the country's armed forces said was a response to "external interference" and "provocations". . . A senior official familiar with Taiwan's security planning told Reuters that China's air force had carried out a "capturing air supremacy" drill, using their advanced J-16 fighters.
"In addition to seeking air supremacy over Taiwan, they have also been conducting frequent electronic reconnaissance and electronic interference operations," the person said.
Taiwan believes China is trying to gather electronic signals from U.S. and Japanese aircraft so that they can "paralyse reinforcing aircraft including F-35s in a war", the source said, referring to the U.S.-operated stealth fighter.<<<
China carried out assault drills near Taiwan on Tuesday, with warships and fighter jets exercising off the southwest and southeast of the island in what the country's armed forces said was a response to "external interference" and "provocations".
www.reuters.com
For those who prefer a more left leaning point of view:
>>>
Wonder Where World War III Might Break Out? Try Taiwan
The hard problem is how long and at what cost is the U.S. willing to stand between Taiwan and mainland China’s aggression. . . .
A clear and troubling consensus has emerged in the American national security community that
the Taiwan Strait is the most likely place for a major war to erupt between the United States and China; that it might start soon, and that such a conflict might quickly escalate into a nuclear confrontation.<<<
The hard problem is how long and at what cost is the U.S. willing to stand between Taiwan and mainland China’s aggression.
www.thedailybeast.com
For those who prefer a view from the right:
>>>
A Chinese Attack on Taiwan Is Getting Closer . . .
U.S. defense planners warn that
Beijing is softening the ground for an assault — one that might come in the not-so-distant future.
At two separate Senate hearings last month, the current head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and the nominee to replace him warned of a growing threat of a Chinese attack. It could come “in the next decade, in fact within the next six years,” said Admiral Phil Davidson. His would-be successor, Admiral John Aquilino, a few weeks later offered a similar assessment: “There are spans from today to 2045. My opinion is this problem is much closer to us than most think.” . . . The modernization drive [of the military in China] has been so successful that in Pentagon war games, the U.S.
consistently loses to China in hypothetical conflicts over Taiwan. <<<
U.S. policy-makers must treat the issue with urgency, under the assumption that Beijing could begin its assault at almost any time.
www.nationalreview.com