ANI
Date: Aug 10, 2018 06:21

China, Taiwan

Hong Kong (China), August 10 (ANI): Many are concerned at China’s more assertive military posture – whether it be outrageous territorial claims in the South China Sea, or incessant “salami slicing” of Indian territory along the Himalayan border – but there is one country above all others most at risk of Chinese military adventurism.

That country is Taiwan, even though Beijing would furiously reject the appellation of “country” being given to what it terms a”renegade province” of the People’s Republic of China. China has two options – either to give up on reunifying Taiwan, or to make even more concrete plans to invade and conquer it. The brand of nationalism espoused by Xi makes the former virtually impossible.

In 1995-96, China launched missiles into waters off Taiwanese harbors in a mark of its displeasure, but there is a growing chance things will go much further next time. China officially spends twelve times more on its military than does Taiwan. Thisbalance of military power, which continues to tilt more heavily in Beijing’s favor, is enough to make military action even more viable in Beijing’s eyes.

Rapprochement with Taiwan under Ma Ying-jeou’sadministration (2008-16) went as far as it could. At that point the 23 million populace voted for the opposition party of Tsai Ing-wen, and that led to an immediate reversal of cordial relations. Nevertheless, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has declared, “We will not succumb to pressure from China…Taiwan is a sovereign, independent country.”
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