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the pages: intro travel food Taiwan economy diplomatic Taiwan military human right in TW soft power identity women education medical personality judiciary white terror |
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the pages: intro travel food Taiwan economy diplomatic Taiwan military human right in TW soft power identity women education medical personality judiciary white terror |
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◆ National Interest, 2024-9-5: A Taiwan war could mean U.S. aircraft carriers are 'going to the bottom'. Some leaders are looking to lessons from Ukraine to make the Taiwan Strait a “hellscape” for Chinese forces. In this scenario, the U.S. floods the region with autonomous aerial, surface, and subsurface drones, to buy Taiwanese and coalition defenders time to move assets into the region to blunt a Chinese assault. ◆ Wall Street Journal, 2024-9-2: Elbridge Colby's argument has always been that Taiwan isn't itself of existential importance to America. Rather, our core interest is in denying China regional hegemony over Asia. Taiwan is very important for that goal, but not essential ◆ NBC News, Reuters, 2024-8-31: the use of China's tactics and strategies against Taiwan is still limited by the natural geographical environment of the Taiwan Strait and insufficient landing equipment and logistic capabilities, But China is speeding up development of a slew of new weapons, such as the H-20 bomber and hypersonic missiles and beefing up the number of nuclear warheads, and China has other options to threaten Taiwan, such as inspecting foreign cargo ships ◆ Times of India, 2024-8-30: Taiwan's heavy reliance on imports—97% of its energy and 70% of its food—makes it particularly vulnerable, according to report from CSIS. such an action could force the US and its allies into a dilemma: whether to engage militarily, risking a larger war with China, or to impose sanctions, which could hurt their own economies and global stability.◆ Wall Street Journal, 2024-8-28: Elbridge Colby suggested the U.S. may not come to Taiwan's defense in the event of Chinese aggression. Robert O'Brien urged Taiwan to spend at least 5% of its gross domestic product on defense.◆ Insider, 2024-8-29: Taiwan is rethinking its use of US-made anti-tank missiles after less than half hit their targets in recent combat drills ◆ SCMP, 2024-8-29: according to the Cato Institute, a Washington-based think tank, a substantial backlog of US$19.1 billion worth of weapons ordered by Taiwan has piled up, some of which has been delayed for a decade or more; Washington's policy of strategic ambiguity has undercut Taiwan's ability to defend itself against Beijing, sending mixed signals to China... ◆ Business Insider, 2024-8-23: within the next six months, an aggressive, short-of-war campaign could force some of Taiwan's most vulnerable islands into a quarantine. Involvement by the US and its allies will be critical in maintaining Taiwan's resistance ◆ Washington Post, 2024-8-21: a new and troubling strain of isolationism is emerging within the Republican Party that advocates for turning our backs on Taiwan and other allies. This new isolationism, masquerading as realism, dismisses the strategic imperatives that have underpinned American foreign policy ◆ Atlantic Council, 2024-8-21: The period between delivery and integration is often invisible to the public. If the US government openly admits that Taiwan may be unable to use the systems already behind schedule for delivery, it could incentivize Beijing to seek unification by force. ◆ NPR, 2024-8-19: As rhetoric heats up over whether the U.S. should defend Taiwan in case of a Chinese invasion, there is also growing skepticism in Taiwan over U.S. reliability as a security partner. ◆ Wired, 2024-8-19: The Pentagon Is planning a drone ‘Hellscape’ to defend Taiwan. CNAS (Jun. 2024): the US defense industrial based may not be “ currently capable of producing the quantities of drones needed for a war with China. ◆ National Interest, 2024-8-17: Tensions between China and Taiwan threaten to boil over. Multiple experts, including this author, believe some kind of major Chinese move against the island democracy is at hand. ◆ Newsweek, 2024-8-16: China researchers call for 'Shadow Government' in Taiwan ahead of takeover. Expert: "nothing short of military action" would bring Taiwan into the fold ◆ The Hill, 2024-8-13:The West's failure to deter Russia's aggression , and its subsequent failure to support a Ukrainian victory is the most important of the pertinent lessons for the looming China-Taiwan conflict...China built the circumstances that would keep the U.S. out of the fight, with an arsenal of anti-ship ballistic missiles and a fleet of attack submarines ◆ SCMP, 2024-8-13: Beijing's spy agency 'destroyed large number' of Taiwan intelligence networks. More than 1,000 cases of Taiwanese espionage were uncovered in crackdown ◆ Council on Foreign Relations , 2024-8-9: The consensus of most foreign observers is that Taiwan is still not taking the existential threat that it faces seriously enough and should raise defense spending far more rapidly. The PRC's multi-decade military modernization effort continues to widen the capability gap compared to Taiwan's military ◆ The American Reservative , 2024-8-9: the Republican policy platform did not include a specific statement regarding the fate of Taiwan. The party platform’s silence on Taiwan represented a notable departure from previous platforms, which explicitly announced that a Trump administration would come to the aid of Taiwan if anything threatened to change in its present status ◆ Washington Post, Star and Strips, 2024-8-4: the “Zero Day” show's bleak assessment of Taiwanese readiness to fight touches upon a very real problem facing President Lai Ching-te, new programs have continued to face shortages of funding, instructors and equipment ◆ CNBC 2024-8-5: Taiwan under pressure to bolster its defense as Trump-Harris presidential race stokes policy concerns ◆ full text
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◆ National Interest, 2024-7-30: Taiwan spends less as a percentage of GDP on its defense than the US (2.6 % compared to 3 %). On top of that, Taiwan does not have a strong draft. Taiwan's politicians likely realize better than Washington that Taiwanese voters may not be as inclined to make the kind of heavy sacrifices that are necessary to defend their freedom ◆ Bloomberg (2024-7-24): China squeezes Taiwan by targeting islands and fishing Sites ── The Chinese Coast Guard is now “constantly” patrolling east of the median line in the Taiwan strait; It's likely that China will increasingly harass fishing boats and sightseeing boats to test Taiwan's response, China's detention of the vessel may also be a subtle test of the US.
◆ New York Times, 2024-7-16: many Taiwanese officials are convinced that their island will be vulnerable unless it quickly steps up preparedness. The upcoming presidential election in the United States adds another element of unpredictability to the tensions.◆ National Interest, 2024-7-13: Taiwan and its partners needed to find a steady path, avoiding both complacency and hysteria. President Biden should reverse course and reiterate the stated policy of ambiguity ◆ Financial Times, 2024-7-10: Experts warn that Taiwan remains woefully underprepared for war. ◆ Le Monde, 2024-7-11: Taiwan reports record-high Chinese military aircraft activity in 24 hours ◆ Bloomberg, TIME, 2024-7-11: China sent a record number of warplanes across a U.S.-drawn boundary in the Taiwan Strait—a move that comes as the new president of the archipelago mulls a trip that may include a stop in America◆ New York Times , 2024-7-3: China Seizes Taiwanese Fishing Boat in Latest Uptick in Tensions; Bonnie Glaser: China wants to demonstrate to Taiwan that it does not have control over air space and sea space...and sends a signal to Lai that he is very close to their red lines and he had better not cross them. ◆ full text
◆ Nikkei Asia , 2024-7-2: China pressures Taiwan's Lai (Ching-te) with most jet fighters in nearly 2 years ◆ Washington Post, 2024-7-1: China: Taiwan's leadership, along with its supporters in the United States, is pursuing “separation” from China in “incremental” fashion. ◆ The Atlantic Council, 2024-6-27: It is more challenging for Taiwan to win that level of support than it is for Ukraine, given Taiwan's contested political status and China's relentless international campaign against it. Taiwan worries less about a sudden Chinese military invasion than about slow strangulation... Foreign Affairs writes that Taiwan's major military investments are not well aligned with the insidious nature of the gray-zone threat. ◆ CNN, 2024-6-22 : China could take Taiwan without even needing to invade ── Quarantine ── will make it far harder for the United States and other like-minded democracies to counter ◆ Daily Express, 2024-6-23 : In a move that escalates already high tensions, China has issued a dire warning to Taiwan independence advocates, threatening them with the death penalty. ◆ New York Times, 2024-6-17 : ... the United States would step in if China truly threatened to invade. But that belief is not universal among Taiwanese politicians and voters, some of whom are skeptical about American dedication and intent...Not all Taiwanese people welcome the tightening embrace (strategic integration) between Taiwan and the U.S. ◆ Financial Times, 2024-6-16 : China's President Xi Jinping told European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen that Washington was trying to goad Beijing into attacking Taiwan. The White House did not comment. ◆ full text
◆ Wall Street Journal, 2024-6-2: The U.S. is getting China's calculations wrong. The assumptions are :China won’t invade unless provoked, and that China still needs to get its military built to attack. but China is determined to subvert and manipulate the island's politics. ◆ FoxNews, 2024-5-28: House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul said : "These war games to intimidate and protest the election from China are probably the most provocative I've ever seen in terms of the numbers of ships and planes", "we will probably lose, if China invaded Taiwan." ◆ New York Times, 2024-5-27: I just think our defense industrial base is overloaded right now, and it cannot handle this amount of conflict in the world.”, McCaul said ◆ New York Times, 2024-5-20: Many experts believe that if the Chinese government tries to force Taiwan to accept unification, it may first attempt using a ring of military forces to severely restrict air and sea access to the island.◆ Washington Post, 2024-5-20: Taiwan swears in new president, the perception is that Lai Ching-te's policy could be more provocative compared to Tsai's policy ◆ New York Times, 2024-5-20: Taiwan's president, Lai Ching-te vows to keep the island democracy safe in the face of Chinese pressure and wars raging abroad ◆ CNN, Reuters, Fox News, Independent (2024-5-17): Taiwan parliament brawl escalates into night as lawmakers shove, tackle and hit each other - Taiwan's opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), along with the People's Party, wants parliament to have greater scrutiny over the government. The clashes raise the prospect of more turmoil - and parliamentary conflict - ahead for Lai's new government after it takes office ◆ full text
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◆ Bloomberg, Yahoo, 2024-5-15: China said it would sanction five Taiwanese political commentators and roll out a law to punish “separatists,” moves aimed at piling pressure on incoming president Lai Ching-te just days before he takes office ◆ Reuters, 2024-5-15: China's military has sailed and flown closer to Taiwan in recent weeks than it has before ◆ Foreign Policy, 2024-5-12: One former defense official suggested the use of “low-yield tactical nuclear weapons” in the event of a conflict with China. The possibility of Russian President Vladimir Putin using such weapons sent shock waves of horror through the world, but the idea of employing them in a war with China became normal in some circles ◆ The Telegraph, 2024-5-11: Just recently Beijing manoeuvred 12 ships to within four nautical miles of Taiwan. The United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) has a clear list on what you can do inside someone else's territorial waters (less than 12 nautical miles off the coast) ◆ Washington Examiner, 2024-5-10: hard to believe that any fight with the United States over Taiwan would not include preemptive or retaliatory strikes against our military facilities in Japan, Guam, Hawaii, and perhaps even the U.S. mainland...key U.S. supply chains, including those related to national security, are dependent on China, giving Beijing the ability to strangle America possibly.◆ Defense News, 2024-5-7: DC became obsessed with a potential 2027 Chinese invasion of Taiwan. But experts said Chinese law doesn't have timelines for an attack on Taiwan;“All politicians want options, so the last thing you want is to be tied to a deadline.”◆ ABC News, 2024-5-1: The US is in a Cold War with China over Taiwan. Taiwan is really existential to U.S. interests because of its position in the region. ◆ Wall Street Journal, 2024-4-30: Taiwan's economy got off to a strong start this year, boosted by strong exports as global demand for electronics picks up, benefiting the producer of high-end chips. ◆ The Telegraph, 2024-5-1: ... Beijing's hypersonic missiles and nuclear weapons – not to enable an attack on Taiwan at a chosen date, but to ensure that with the balance of power changing in China's favour, it will not be needed. Xi is betting on political disarray and disunity among the US and his Western allies ◆ Business Insider, 2024-4-27: A host of warning signs point to China preparing for military action against Taiwan. Military forces are being deployed nearer to Taiwan than ever, effectively shortening Taiwan's reaction time. ◆ USNI News, 2024-4-23: Report to Congress on Taiwan Defense Issues - A key consideration for U.S. policymakers is whether and if so how to support Taiwan’s ability to defend itself in a possible cross-Strait conflict without triggering such a conflict. ◆ New York Times, 2024-4-23: in the Foreign Aid Package, the House attached a provision that would allow the Pentagon to quickly provide Taiwan with more offensive weapons and provides billions more for the purchase of advanced U.S. weapons technology as the U.S. and Taiwanese governments continue to build up their alliances to deter China from invading the island. ◆ New York Times, 2024-4-18: The House is set to vote on a foreign aid package for Taiwan - allow the Pentagon to quickly provide Taiwan with more offensive weapons and provides billions more for the purchase of advance U.S. weapons technology as the U.S. and Taiwanese governments continue to build up their alliances to deter China from launching an invasion ◆ Wall Street Journal, 2024-4-15: Appointing a national-security team that is almost identical to that of his predecessor will help reassure the White House that Lai isn't likely to sharply alter Taiwan's posture toward Beijing; Bringing a civilian into the defense ministry can promote reforms, Taiwan's military will likely accelerate spending on asymmetric capabilities, a path that many in Washington have called for as Taiwan focuses on deterring an attack by a much larger Chinese military ◆ CNN, 2024-4-10: It's the first time a former president of Taiwan has been hosted by China's top leader in Beijing since Chiang Kai-shek's KMT fled to Taipei in 1949.
◆ Daily Express, 2024-3-20 : World on the brink as Taiwan admits US troops stationed on Chinese border. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed in 2023 facilitated the deployment of these troops to conduct training programs for Taiwanese frontline forces. ◆ Foreign Policy, 2024-3-14 : Taiwan imports 97 percent of its energy through highly vulnerable maritime shipping routes. Any quarantine, blockade, or invasion of the island by China would devastate its ability to sustain basic services and critical infrastructure—not to mention the factories that produce approximately 90 percent of the world's most advanced semiconductors. Solutions are in short supply. ◆ War On The Rocks, 2024-3-14 : U.S. public support for Taiwan, which is as high as it has ever been according to polls, supports aiding Taiwan to defend itself against China in the event of an attack, but consistently opposes any direct military intervention by the United States. ◆ Daily Express, 2024-3-13: Taiwan war with China given latest seal of approval by US with new deadly weapon (the Link 16 comm. system ) in a move set to escalate tensions between Taiwan and China delivery. Link 16 acts as the brain and nervous system of Taiwan's military apparatus, places control firmly in US hands. ◆ Daily Express, 2024-3-8: China - with its military build-up, hoarding of food, and military recruitment drives - is preparing for something big; A recent documentary aired in Mainland China also added to expectations that a move on Taiwan is imminent. Recent purges of top military brass might be an attempt by CCP leader Xi Jinping to eliminate all opposition to invading or blockading Taiwan in the near future. Anyone who thinks China would be deterred because of the economic impact of war ought to remember Zero Covid and how political considerations outweighed economic factors. ◆ full text
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Taiwan classifies the military move against intrusion as "First strike" |
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| ◆ EurAsian Times, 2024-3-10:Taiwan has authorized its commanders to use lethal military force on intruding Chinese warplanes that cross its aerial and maritime territorial borders. Classifying the military move as a “first strike,” ...Ministry of National Defense says “that if enemy aircraft or vessels intruded into Taiwan’s airspace or waters, then commanders are authorized to take appropriate measures to maintain national defense security when all other non-peaceful means fail.” eurasiantimes.com/china-ill-prepared-to-annex-taiwan-top-pla-general/ | ◆ United Daily (Taiwan), 2024-3-10: a group of China's fishing boats entered Taiwan's internal waters (6 nautical miles) and destroyed our fishing-net, but Taiwan was inactive about it. udn.com/news/story/11091/7821748?from=udn_ch2cate6643sub11091_pulldownmenu_v2 |
◆ The Hill, 2024-3-5: In China's legislature, Premier Li's report had stronger language on Taiwan - Dropping the word “peace” combined with the phrase “resolutely opposing Taiwan independence,” is what signals a stronger stance ◆ EurAsian Times, 2024-3-5: Admiral Samuel Paparo, leading the US Indo-Pacific Command, warned that China could soon use military drills to cover up an invasion of Taiwan. Thus, the writing is on the wall. ◆ New York Times, 2024-2-26: Chinese forces crossed the median line 302 times, essentially erasing it as a functional boundary. China also has essentially established a permanent naval presence around the island. ◆ CNN, 2024-2-27: Today Xi is expanding China's military at a pace the world hasn’t seen in a century – since before World War Two. Xi's military build-up is, by comparison, larger than Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan combined. his ambitions in nuclear, space, and AI warfare are advancing at lightning speed... characterized by a high degree of projective self-confidence and a lot less patient on the Taiwan issue. ◆ Council on Foreign relations, 2024-2-27: Taiwanese society has grown increasingly skeptical of the United States, which has been enhancing its political relationship with Taiwan but without enhancing its international standing or offering it tangible economic benefits. the increased number of official visits to Taiwan has been perceived as largely symbolic ◆ Financial Times, 2024-2-23: Previous statements only pledged to ‘resolutely oppose’ Taiwan independence, but now China’s Communist party toughens Taiwan rhetoric with call to ‘fight’ independence ◆ VOA, 2024-2-23: recent Chinese coast guard activities actions will likely become a "new normal" near Taiwan’s outlying islands. We can expect China to conduct similar operations near Kinmen and Matsu Islands ◆ Yahoo News, 2024-2-24: Trump wouldn't say definitively one way or the other whether he would defend Taiwan. DAVID SACKS: and actually blame Taiwan for taking America's semiconductor industry. So I do think the US presidential election could be a real factor here. ◆ CNN, 2024-2-23: Xi takes a page from Putin as he vows to control Taiwan; Xi is expanding China's military at a pace the world has not seen in a century since before World War II. ◆ full text
◆ Asia Times, 2024-2-19: China may be preparing for a drawn-out war, citing IISS think tank assessment. That may mean focusing more on its reservists and reexamining operational plans for long-term industrial and logistic sustainment. RAND mentions that due to Taiwan's military disadvantages and low durability, a US intervention would be required to repel a Chinese invasion ...with 25 out of 28 naval wars from the Peloponnesian War to the Cold War being won by superior fleet numbers, with only three won out of technological advantage ◆ Foreign Affairs, 2024-2-16: Were Japan or South Korea to go nuclear, Beijing might conclude that they needed considerably more than the 1,500 warheads, then both the United States and Russia would likely seek to expand their arsenals, too. ◆ DW, 2024-2-16: the blockade would be a very special threat for Taiwan... neither the conventional capability, nor asymmetric capability, can be effective to deter or defend for this operation ◆ CSIS.org , 2024-2-13: any conflict in the Taiwan Strait would also quickly spread across the globe and into cyberspace and space. There would also be real risk of a nuclear exchange. If China uses force to assert control over Taiwan, it would mark the definitive end of the post-World War II international system ◆ The Lowy Institute, 2024-2-12: a Chinese invasion is probable this decade – (1) the trajectory of Taiwan's politics is away from the mainland (2) China's economic growth has plateaued (3) US export controls turn Taiwan into a Western bastion (4) the Silicon Shield is being eroded (5) The “one China” discursive framework has decayed (6) the military balance of power no longer is guaranteed in the long term◆ Reuters, 2024-2-6: the latest high-tech weapons delivered by the U.S. were often locked up in storehouses. The armed forces as burdened by "unprofessionalism, defeatism and Chinese nationalism". ◆ Business Insider, 2024-2-6: During last year's APEC summit, Chinese leader Xi Jinping reportedly told President Joe Biden that China fully intends to take over Taiwan — a move that could result in a hot war in the region ◆ National Interest, 2024-2-2: hybrid warfare operations still fit better into China's cost-benefit calculus. China's invasion of Taiwan seems unlikely in the short term. Instead, the military aspects of China's hybrid warfare operations may be more visible in the near future ◆ Reuters, 2024-1-31: Taiwan angered at 'unilateral' China change to Taiwan Strait flight path, saying it appeared to be a deliberate attempt to change the status quo for possible military means ◆ Bloomberg, TIME, 2024-1-31:China says the U.S. could abandon Taiwan if Trump wins the Presidency; In July, Trump avoided directly answering a query over whether as president he'd defend Taiwan if China attacked. ◆ Reuters, 2024-1-31: Taiwan angered at 'unilateral' China change to Taiwan Strait flight path, saying it appeared to be a deliberate attempt to change the status quo for possible military means.◆ Semafor, 2024-1-26: whether or not these investments (more than 1.6 million reserve personnel) would count for much in the case of a potential invasion by Beijing “remains to be seen,”...As Taiwan continues to adjust to shifting demographics – such as its aging population and declining male-to-female ratio – the current one-year conscription policy for men may need lengthening further. ◆ The Telegraph, 2024-1-26: The PLA is in crisis. That won’t stop China invading Taiwan. the US intelligence community and Defense Department have consistently underestimated the capabilities of the People's Liberation Army and its intentions ◆ National Interest 2024-1-24: the possibility of Washington sacrificing Taiwan in a deal with China that would benefit the United States financially would rise significantly under another Trump administration. Taiwan's unfortunate fate is that it will always be vulnerable to a sellout by the United States. This danger may be increasing. ◆ The Hill, 2024-1-23: according to a new survey from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a majority of experts said they believe a crisis in the Taiwan Strait is likely in 2024, with a Chinese blockade or “quarantine” of the island seen as the most likely scenario ◆ Semafor, 2024-1-24: according to Foreign Policy, Incoming President William Lai must also convince young people “who are more concerned with trying to pay their bills than preparing for war,” that an invasion threat is real and they are the first line of defense.◆ New York Times, 2024-1-17: A peaceful solution on Taiwan is slipping away. Chinese law explicitly states that Beijing may use force if possibilities for peaceful unification are “completely exhausted.”. Conflict between China and the United States just got a little more likely. ◆ New York Times, 2024-1-13: Beijing loathes the new president, Lai Ching-te. He aims to protect the status quo with caution and American help, but tensions are likely to rise ... Lai Ching-te is an impulsive and politically biased figure, so we cannot rule out the possibility that unpredictable and unknown developments may occur during his tenure...Mr. Xi's views on Taiwan were clear. That includes his insistence that force can be used if necessary. ◆ full text
◆ Washington Post, 2024-1-10: increasingly frequent warnings from China's strongman leader Xi Jinping that Beijing's rule here is “inevitable” — raising the prospect of a conflict that could draw in the United States ◆ Washington Examiner, 2024-1-8: According to the Economist, China has directly warned the U.S. of the consequences of a Lai victory, raising tensions in the region. In the event of a Lai victory, large-scale demonstrations from the Chinese military and other belligerent moves are expected. The prospect of Taiwan severing ties with a China ... possibly leading him to warm to direct military action. ◆ NBC , 2024-1-9: China has framed the (Taiwan) election as “a choice between war and peace.”; Wen-Ti Sung, a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council, described Taiwan's security situation as “urgent but not immediate.”◆ Washington Post, 2024-1-5: With wars in Europe and the Middle East, U.S. power is stretched dangerously, historically thin. much of Taiwan's defense budget is locked into capabilities that are neither survivable nor potent.” Taipei is relying on the U.S. Air Force and Navy to ride to the rescue. The best path to preventing a war of “unification” is probably to postpone it, ideally indefinitely, through fictions such as the “one China” policy ◆ Reuters, 2024-1-5: A Hou presidency could help stabilize cross-Strait relations, lower the near-term threat level, and buy more time for Taiwan's defense reforms to be implemented," Templeman of Stanford University's Hoover Institution said ◆ Reuters, 2024-1-3: 'Hawkish' China military squeeze on Taiwan likely after election. If the DPP wins the presidency but loses its majority in parliament, that could also temper China's response given it would weaken the DPP's ability to pass legislation ◆ Wall Street Journal, 2023-12-29: In Taipei, Lai Ching-te paints a picture of a Taiwanese public far less preoccupied with Beijing's designs than political leaders in the Western world. The KMT accused the DPP of underplaying the deterioration of cross-strait ties and the risk of war ◆ CNN, 2023-12-29: Beijing has long used its massive coast guard as a force to project power, some analysts believe that China could soon start to deploy the coast guard to ratchet up the pressure on Taiwan ◆ New York Post, 2023-12-26: Xi Jinping says China's ‘complete reunification’ with Taiwan will ‘surely’ happen ◆ full text
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Taiwan Presidential election debate 2023-12-30 |
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| ◆ VOA News , Washington Post, AP, 2023-12-30 | Taiwan's presidential candidates expressed desire for peaceful relations with Beijing. Tensions with China have featured strongly in the presidential campaign. Lai Ching-te promised to help strengthen Taiwan's defense and economy if elected. Hou said he opposed Taiwan's independence but also a potential unification under China's “one country, two systems” framework. Ko Wen-je, referenced a quote by Antony Blinken, saying that “Taiwan and China will cooperate if they can cooperate, compete if there’s a need to compete, and confront each other if they must confront each other.”; my bottom line is that Taiwan must maintain its current democratic and free political system and way of life. voanews.com/a/taiwan-s-presidential-candidates-emphasize-peace-with-beijing/7418610.html |
| ◆ Reuters (UK), 2023-12-31 | China calls Taiwan president frontrunner a destroyer of peace,"His words were full of confrontational thinking," after he spoke at a presidential debate the island's sovereignty and independence belong to its people, the Republic of China and People's Republic of China "are not subordinate to each other". KMT's Hou has denounced Lai as an independence supporter. news.yahoo.com/china-calls-taiwan-president-frontrunner-012538807.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall |
| ◆ DW (Germany), 2023-12-31 | Presidential candidates debate in shadow of China。Lai remained defiant, at one point insisting that, "The sovereignty of Taiwan belongs to the 23 million people in Taiwan. It does not belong to China”, "I will not go backward like the Kuomintang and be willing to become a vassal of totalitarianism... There are so many uncertainties regarding their policies". msn.com/en-in/news/world/taiwan-presidential-candidates-debate-in-shadow-of-china/ar-AA1mfuFn |
| ◆ AFP (France), 2023-12-30 | China ties dominate Taiwan presidential debate，Ko, whose small TPP has performed above expectations in Taiwan's dominant two-party landscape, called President Tsai's cross-strait policies "a mess". The results of which could determine Taipei's future ties with an increasingly bellicose China. msn.com/en-us/news/world/china-ties-dominate-taiwan-presidential-debate/ar-AA1meDRj |
| ◆ Reuters, 2023-12-30 | The televised debate was dominated by arguments over China and tensions in the Taiwan Strait.。Taiwan belongs to its people: presidential candidate，"The current status quo is that the Taiwan Strait is on the brink of war. So, to maintain close ties with the United States while also making peace with China is the solution to the problem," Hou said news.yahoo.com/taiwan-belongs-people-presidential-candidate-131009794.html |
| ◆ The Guardian, 2023-12-30 | All three presidential candidates have acknowledged the potential risks of Taiwan becoming the next conflict zone. They aim to convince voters that they are the most capable leaders who can ensure peace and stability across the Taiwan strait, for Beijing the priority is to ensure the ruling Democratic Progressive party (DPP) is kicked out of office. theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/30/taiwan-election-new-president-growing-threat-china Helen Davidson |
| ◆ SKY News (Australia), 2023-12-31 | the race has become more unpredictable. The stakes for Taiwan's future have never seemed more unsteady, in light of rising tensions with China. skynews.com.au/world-news/our-future-has-never-seemed-more-unsteady-what-taiwans-2024-presidential-race-means-for-the-islands-rapidly-deteriorating-relationship-with-china/news-story/fe83df822e798ea6452659ceab914849 Hilton Yip |
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media |
China's invasion |
| ◆ GB News, 2023-12-25 | So we should be working with Taiwan right now privately telling them we're not going to fight for you. “We just can't get into a war that could go nuclear, it would be foolish.” |
| ◆ NBC, 2023-12-26 | Xi's private warning on reunifying Taiwan to Biden 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. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. said: First, create a robust defense supplemental for Taiwan and second, draft pre-invasion sanctions from hell to impose on China if they take action to seize Taiwan. (ps: no plan to send military troops) |
| ◆ Daily Express, 2023-12-23 | The Taiwan war is coming - and the West will need boots on the ground |
| ◆ New York Post, 2023-12-21 | China's Xi Jinping warned Joe bluntly that Beijing will take Taiwan... It represents a clear escalation on China's part, moving from its longtime claim of ownership to notification of intent to take possession. Biden often talks tough, but shies from any action he fears will “escalate” a confrontation — forever leaving the initiative in the hands of America's adversaries. |
| ◆ First Post, 2023-12-22 | Japan says that an invasion of Taiwan by China is imminent and that it is preparing for the repercussions |
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NBC Universal, 2023-12-21:
War of Words / Experts say China is pushing influence campaign as Taiwan
preps for Presidential Election.
majority of voters don't favor closer ties to China or to the US, instead, they
want to preserve the status quo with Taiwan
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Brookings Institution, 2023-12-18:
although China would respond to a Taiwan
declaration of independence with a military campaign, Beijing knows that this
would be quite risky, in part because the PLA is not
ready to undertake such a complicated campaign;
a wide-ranging campaign of coercion that
includes displays of military force but a variety of non-military pressure and
intimidation, a low-risk approach,
targets the confidence of the people of Taiwan, and there are signs that it is
gradually working.◆
Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
, 2023-12-13:
Taiwan is
a country that suffers from one of the lowest
trust rates in the media among
democracies (28%) and where the media community is often
criticised for disregarding journalism ethics...
journalists suffer from a very polarised media environment dominated
by sensationalism and the pursuit of profit at the expense of
quality news reporting.
◆
The Conversation, 2023-12-11:
poll finds more than 80% of
Taiwanese people believe the China threat is worsening – prospects for
peace and stability are also affecting the island’s international
business and investment outlook.◆
The Diplomat, 2023-12-11:
Continuity in U.S. support for Taiwan and hardening against China will face
an inflection point if Biden is replaced by Donald Trump or some other
candidate with strong “America First” leanings in the November 2024
elections
◆
full text
 ◆ Fortune, 2023-12-5: After Israel and Ukraine, Taiwan business leaders fear Taipei-Beijing tensions may trigger the next geopolitical conflict... ◆ Defense News, 2023-12-5:The real danger is that Chinese leaders calculate a window exists for them to achieve a fait accompli before the United States has sufficient combat power in the region...Unfortunately, the logistics problem defies simple solution for the US... |
◆
Fox News, 2023-12-3:
Joint Chiefs chairman says 'we all should be' worried about China
possibly invading Taiwan ◆
The Hill, 2023-11-30:
Americans now want the U.S. to focus its military efforts in the Middle
East over East Asia, a month into the Israel-Hamas war;
when it comes to the overall military capability, the United States no
longer has outright superiority, but the American people clearly have
not internalized that. ◆
New York Times, 2023-11-26: Taiwan, a highly
online society, has repeatedly been found to be the top target in
the world for disinformation from foreign governments.
RAND: China's disinformation work has had “measurable
effects”. Critics denounced the government's anti-disinformation campaign as a
political witch hunt, Taiwan's media
ecosystem, with its diverse
political leanings, often produces pro-Beijing content that can be
misattributed to Chinese manipulation.
◆
Bloomberg, 2023-11-24:
Nottingham scholar says that there is
zero chance that the unhappy trajectory in cross-strait relations gets
reversed if Lai Ching-te wins.
It will certainly lead to a continuation and probable escalation
of pressures and threats
...
will
impact the nature of the US's already tense
ties with China.
◆
Washington Post,
2023-11-21:
Xi Jinping is sending ominous signals on Taiwan /
on the most important issue in the relationship — Taiwan —
Washington and Beijing are moving further apart. Xi:
'peace is all well and good,
but at some point we need to move toward resolution more generally'
◆ Newsweek,
2023-11-21: an
overwhelming majority (7/10) of people in Taiwan do
not believe the United States is trustworthy, according to a new poll released
on Monday. Most, however, were convinced by America's commitment to the island's
safety.
◆
Economist,
2023-11-13:
Strategists worry about a “window of vulnerability” in the Indo-Pacific
this decade, as China’s forces grow stronger and America’s investments
in new military equipment don’t fully bear fruit until the 2030s...As
for capacity, the Pentagon long ago abandoned the requirement that its
armed forces be able to fight two major regional wars simultaneously.
◆
The WEEK,
2023-11-13:
Historically, Taiwan has been an "easy target for Chinese spies", It is "not very strict about
punishing espionage"...China has "penetrated many
parts of the Taiwanese government over the decades", said The New York
Times
◆
full text
|
pic. :
This websites group was ranked No.1 "introduction to Taiwan"
|
| western media | Taiwan's presidential election |
| Economist, 2023-11-15 | Taiwan's opposition parties unite... could lead to a significant relaxation of the island-state's defiant posture towards China |
| Washington Post, 2023-11-15 | Taiwan's two main opposition parties, both of which have vowed to restart talks with China, announced a joint presidential ticket for January’s election in a deal that could bring a major political upset in the self-ruled island democracy. |
| Foreign Policy, 2023-11-15 | in any case, support for the DPP has been fading ahead of January’s presidential elections. But voters in Taiwan tend to be lukewarm toward candidates seen as too pro-China, and the DPP still leads in several polls. |
| Bloomberg, 2023-11-15 | a single opposition bid raises the likelihood of a government in Taipei more willing to accept China’s conditions for direct talks between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. |
| TIME, 2023-11-15 | A successful opposition alliance — no matter who is running as president — means it’s likely cross-strait tensions will improve |
| Financial Times, 2023-11-15 | Taiwan’s opposition parties join forces for crucial presidential poll Deal sharply increases odds that ruling Democratic Progressive party will lose election; Beijing has denounced Lai as a separatist and framed the presidential race as a choice between war and peace — rhetoric sometimes echoed by the opposition. |
| Reuters, 2023-11-15 | Some opinion polls have shown that if Hou and Ko teamed up, in whatever combination, they would beat Lai 。Tamkang University scholar: The U.S. and China both want stabilised Taiwan Strait relations. Lai may not be the ideal person for this |
◆ Washington Post, 2023-11-13: the United States’ Indo-Pacific Command now considers it harder to distinguish between Chinese military coercion and the full-scale mobilization that would presage an invasion...However, China probably remains years away from being capable of using civilian ships to support a successful cross-strait invasion ◆ Newsweek, 2023-11-9: Taiwan's long wait for nearly $20 Billion in American weapons, asymmetric weaponry accounts for $4.22 billion, or 22 percent of the backlog. ◆ BBC, 2023-11-9: If Taiwan is not controlling sensitive and secret information very well… You should expect any competent foreign intelligence service to get access to it. ◆ BBC, 2023-11-6: In Washington there is a strong sense that Taiwan is running out of time to reform and rebuild its military. In a conflict with China, Taiwan's navy and air force would be wiped out in the first 96 hours of battle. Under intense pressure from Washington, Taipei is switching to a "fortress Taiwan" strategy - repelling an invasion on the beaches and, if necessary, in the towns and cities ◆ New York Times, 2023-10-29: Taiwan must accelerate its shift toward investing in defense capabilities - make a greater effort to stockpile not only munitions, but also food, water and energy. It needs to adopt a whole-of-society approach to its defense that emphasizes national resistance, resilience and the willingness to fight. ◆ Newsweek, 2023-10-26: Taiwan Voters Must Choose Between 'War and Peace,' China Says ◆ Economist, 2023-10-26: 46% of voters are worried about a possible war between Taiwan and China in the next five years. ◆ New York Times, 2023-10-22: Foxconn, Apple's Manufacturer in China, Is Said to Be Under Tax Audit ◆ New York Times, 2023-10-21: Why we should fear China more than Middle Eastern war ? Only China is an arguable peer of the United States, only China's technological and industrial might can hope to match our own, and only China has the capacity to project power globally as well as regionally. ◆ SKY News (Australia), 2023-10-21: Taiwan has been accused of permitting modern modern-day slavery with its migrant workers...migrant workers are often mistreated in an unfair system which needs to be overhauled. ◆ full text
|
Taiwan's economy - compared with Asian countries |
||
| ★ |
Hong Kong |
Taiwan |
| Median wealth per adult (Credit Suisse, Research Institute, 2023 ) | US$ 202,410 (world No.3) | US$ 108,250 |
| Mean wealth per adult (Credit Suisse, Research Institute, 2023 ) | US$ 551,190 | US$ 273,790 |
| The average salary (Morgan McKinley, Business Insider, 2023) | HK $36,583 (about TWD147,204) | TWD 48,032 (plus overtime etc TWD 57,045) - storm.mg/lifestyle/4851897 |
| Median salary (UDN, 2023-12-14) | about TWD 84,000 | about TWD 43,000 |
| Market Capitalization (UDN, 2023-12-14) | more than double of Taiwan's | about USD 1.7 trillion |
| ★ At the end of 2022, Taiwan's per capita GDP amounted to $32,756 while Singapore's was $82,808, Japan and South Korea were at $33,815 and $32,255, respectively, according to the World Bank. | ||
|
Reuters, 2023-10-24 : Who is running to be Taiwan's next president? |
|
| LAI CHING-TE | Lai and Tsai Ing-Wen say only Taiwan's people can decide their future. |
| HOU YU-IH | strongly denies being pro-Beijing, and will restart talks with Beijing. |
| KO WEN-JE | China should propose a new framework for engagement with Taiwan and explain what Beijing has to offer |
◆ SCMP, 2023-10-21: Taiwanese defence minister admitted it would be "impossible" for the island's military to block a saturation attack. The inadequate training given to Taiwanese reservists after discharge has been known for some time, drawing criticism from the US, ...Taiwan could also learn from Israel about maintaining a lasting public enthusiasm to fend off the enemy ◆ New York Times, 2023-10-16: if Xi concludes that the United States has broken, once and for all, from its previous position on Taiwan and is bent on thwarting unification, he may feel that he must act militarily. If the combination of deterrence and reassurance fails and China attacks Taiwan, it will set a precedent in which Chinese leaders kill and destroy to achieve their goals. ◆ Newsweek, 2023-10-16: The U.S. has known since no later than 2012——that Chinese surface-to-surface (STS) missiles can destroy U.S. aircraft carriers, or any other military asset that isn't submerged; Taiwan has storage capacity for 11 days of natural gas consumption. A Chinese blockade would force Taiwan's surrender in short order ◆ VOA News, 2023-10-13: Expert says : for Taiwan, the most important thing is whether the intelligence it has gathered can help Taipei prepare for potential military conflicts, Taiwan should also assess whether it can promptly mobilize its forces and whether its forces can react to sudden attacks swiftly... there's a question about whether Taiwan can obtain enough equipment for all of them ◆ Telegraph, 2023-10-13: If China attempts a blockade of Taiwan, Taiwanese forces and their American allies will have to break the blockade – or risk losing the island democracy to mainland...It’s worth noting the United States hasn’t directly intervened in the Chinese blockade of a Philippine outpost ◆ Express (UK), 2023-10-13: A China-Taiwan war could break out unless the war in Israel is put to an end ◆ Newsweek, 2023-10-12: Since war broke out in the Mideast, some with hawkish views in the U.S. have suggested that Taiwan needs to take its self-defense seriously. ◆ Washington Post, 2023-10-12: Taiwan is closely watching the Hamas-Israel war for lessons as it faces intimidation from China ◆ AP, Reuters, 2023-10-10: Taiwan seeks 'peaceful coexistence' with China, president says, Differences between Taiwan and China must be resolved peacefully, and maintaining the status quo is "critical" to ensuring peace ◆ BBC, 2023-10-5: Most analysts agree that Taiwan's military - a shrunken army, outnumbered navy and old artillery - would be no match against a far more powerful China. ◆ Washington Examiner, 2023-10-5: Were Taipei truly serious about deterring and defeating a PLA attack, it would be spending closer to 10% of its GDP on defense ◆ Politico.eu, 2023-10-5: Taiwan shivers over Ukraine funding freeze ◆ full text
|
◆
Report to Congress on Taiwan
Defense Military Issues |
|
| Advantages | including geography and climate. |
| Challenges |
(1)
the PLA now is able, or will soon be able, to execute a
range of military campaigns against Taiwan. (2) Civil-military relations are strained... The archipelago's energy, food, water, internet, and other critical infrastructure systems are vulnerable to external disruption. Taiwan's civil defense preparedness is insufficient, and Taiwan's military struggles to recruit, retain, and train personnel. At a societal level, it is not clear what costs — in terms of economic security, safety and security, and lives — Taiwan's people would be willing or able to bear. |
|
US defends Taiwan ? |
|
|
◆ The Hill, 2023-9-26 |
During a Tokyo interview alongside Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Biden repeated his statement on defending Taiwan: “That’s the commitment we made.” But, when asked whether “the policy of strategic ambiguity towards Taiwan [is] dead,” he replied “No.” |
|
◆ National Review, 2023-9-19 |
It's noteworthy that Biden declined to say a single word about Taiwan in his U.N. speech came a day after the Chinese Communist Party's armed forces sent 103 jets into Taiwan’s air-defense identification zone — which is a new record that surpasses even the Chinese tantrum that followed then–House speaker Pelosi's visit to Taiwan. |
◆ CNN, 2023-9-28: President Tsai Ing-wen hailed this as a significant milestone. “The submarine is an important realization of our concrete commitment in defending our country”.♦ Newsweek, 2023-9-29: Taiwan's former military leader who heads the submarine program said that the slated eight Hai Kun-class boats would bolster the country's defenses to the point that "I don't think we will lose a war.".
|
|
|
◆ Washington Post, 2023-9-28: Taiwan launches the island's first domestically made submarine for testing |
|
| BBC, 2023-9-28 | National University of Singapore Drew Thompson: the "centre of gravity" for any China-Taiwan naval conflict would not likely be in the deep waters off the island's east coast, where submarines would be most effective in...Instead, the main theatre of war would be in the shallower waters of the west coast facing mainland China...The submarine is not optimised for a counter invasion role... |
| CNN, 2023-9-28 | While the Taiwan Strait might be too shallow for submarines to operate in, the vessels could be most useful when deployed to target Chinese warships in the Bashi channel – which separates Taiwan from the Philippines – and the waters between Taiwan and Japan’s westernmost islands. China has planned for a major naval engagement with the US outside the first island chain, around the Philippine Sea”. |
| News Week, 2023-9-29 | A senior researcher at RAND: The relatively shallow, choppy waters of the Taiwan Strait were well-suited for masking submarines but also harder to operate in. Policy experts in the U.S. have urged Taipei to adopt an asymmetric defense strategy based on "lots of small, deadly things—anti-ship missiles, anti-air missiles, etc.—that would make Taiwan a porcupine." Such an approach would become more useful, and submarines less so。 |
News brief ◆ The Daily Caller, 2023-9-24: China is on the fast track to wage war against Taiwan — and the US, experts say. China has been preparing for the possibility of fighting the U.S. over Taiwan going back to around 1996 or 1997 after realizing Washington intended to preserve the status quo of Taiwan's semi-autonomy, experts explained. ◆ 19FortyFive, 2023-9-20: China's military is preparing to invade Taiwan (And quite soon); China's military has developed advanced methods for depriving the Americans of their vaunted advantage in space, threatening the US in the cyber domain, and possibly disrupting the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum to sabotage American forces ◆ The Hill, 2023-9-19: The US election may well decide the fate of Ukraine, Taiwan and the rules-based international order ◆ Military, 2023-9-13: We lost the wars in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. Knowing our frailties, Xi will persist in pressuring Taiwan to dissolve from within, while employing military provocations to test America's martial resolve ... By 37% to 22%, Americans on a bipartisan basis believe we should militarily protect Taiwan ◆ Washington Examiner, 2023-9-6: Former President Donald Trump hinted that he would not order a U.S. military intervention against China were it to attack Taiwan ◆ Foreign Policy, 2023-9-5: China could exploit its geographical proximity and advancing capabilities to win a regional war against Taiwan. U.S. deterrence against China ( to convince Chinese President Xi Jinping that an attack would fail. ) is not working. The U.S. military may merely need to raise China's perception that any conflict would be drawn out and exceedingly costly. ◆ American Legion, 2023-9-6: Some predictions have estimated war could break out as early as 2029. Dr. Shelley Rigger, a Davidson College professor, acknowledges that such forecasts are made with careful thought, research and analysis. Still, she says, it's a situation in flux. ◆ Chicago Tribune, AP, VOA News, 2023-9-2: Taiwan's government is racing to counter China, but many on the island say they don't feel the threat. That may be partly due to the nuanced views many Taiwanese hold of China. Many say they are attracted to their much larger neighbor’s dynamic economy, and its shared language and culture. Others are simply numb to hearing about the threat in their backyard. ◆ Wall Street Journal, 2023-8-29: Ramaswamy says The US currently doesn't even recognize Taiwan as a nation. Democrates and Republicans both unquestioningly endorse the "One China" policy and embrace "strategic ambiguity" toward the island. No other presidential candidate is willing to commit to militarily defending Taiwan ◆ Atlantic Council, 2023-8-23: full-fledged invasion of the island would be difficult. But there are other scenarios, such as a blockade, that would paralyze life on the island and make a Chinese invasion a lot easier. ◆ The Telegraph, 2023-8-22: China's Taiwan invasion: Battle for the Strait will be a colossal missile duel ◆ Washington Examiner, 2023-8-22: China boasts record-high military recruitment, if military aid (Taiwan war) is needed, America's sagging recruitment numbers could be a problem. ◆ full text
◎
|
Taiwan presidency - Lai (DPP), Ko, Hou, Gou (opposition) |
|
| ◆ BBC, 2023-8-29 | Opinion polls also show that around 40% of voters are pretty solid supporters of the ruling DPP. That means the ruling party can be beaten. But to have any chance the opposition would have to unite around a single candidate. Now Taiwan's opposition vote will be split three ways. |
| ◆ Economist, 2023-8-29 | The opposition would not end the tensions, but it would probably reduce them by placating China. A win for Mr Lai, might have the opposite effect. |
| ◆ Washington Post, 2023-8-28 | Taiwanese voters could either fuel or dampen the mounting tensions. Their choice is between a ruling party determined to maintain Taiwan's political independence, and an opposition that sees closer ties with China as the only viable path. |
| ◆ Wall Street Journal, 2023-8-25 | analysts said Lai's lead could erode by the time voters cast their ballots in January, given Taiwan's reputation for volatile politics. |
| ◆ Reuters, 2023-8-28 |
Any split on the non-DPP side would mean Lai's sure victory in January.
Terry Gou's main theme in his pre-campaign events has been that the only way to avoid war with China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, is to get the DPP out of office. |
| ◆ AP, The Hill, 2023-8-28 | Terry Gou announces run for Taiwan presidency. He has received criticism that he was splitting the vote,“I will definitely not allow Taiwan to become the next Ukraine”. He has received criticism that he was splitting the vote |
|
US Congress
CRS Report, 2023-8-24 -
Taiwan: Defense and Military Issues
|
|
♣ persistent,
low-level, non-combat operations that analysts say are eroding Taiwan's
military advantages and readiness...
unmanned combat aerial
vehicle flights near and encircling
Taiwan, and reported flights of unmanned aerial vehicles
in the airspace of Kinmen...The normalization of PLA operations ever closer to Taiwan's main
island in peacetime could undermine “routine” operations or exercises to obscure
preparations for an attack. If the PLA were to
use such operations as cover for an imminent attack, it could
significantly shorten the time Taiwan would have to respond ♣ many observers argue that Taiwan's military is insufficiently equipped to defeat a possible PRC armed attack. observers have raised concerns about impediments to the timely delivery of U.S. defense items to Taiwan. ♣ Civil military relations are strained for historical, political, and bureaucratic reasons. The archipelago’s energy, food, water, internet, and other critical infrastructure systems are vulnerable to external disruption. Civil defense preparedness is insufficient, ... Taiwan's military struggles to recruit, retain, and train personnel. It is not clear what costs—in terms of economic security, well-being, safety and security, and lives—Taiwan's people would be willing or able to bear ... |
|
2023 Michelin stars comparisons among Asian countries |
|||||
|
Michelin cities |
total number of stars |
Green Star |
3 Star |
2 Star |
1 Star |
| Tokyo (Japan) | 202 | 12 | 12 | 39 | 139 |
| Kyoto (Japan) | 104 | 6 | 6 | 19 | 73 |
| Osaka (Japan) | 97 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 81 |
| Hong Kong | 81 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 58 |
| Singapore | 65 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 55 |
| Shanghai (China) | 51 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 39 |
| Seoul (S. Korea) | 38 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 25 |
| Taipei (Taiwan) | 29 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 20 |
| By highlighting eco-friendly pioneer restaurants with the MICHELIN Green Star, and spotlighting their virtuous initiatives, it stimulates awareness and actions both within the industry and by gourmets. | |||||
◆ Daily Mail, 2023-8-18: China rehearses invasion of Taiwan with troops storming 'sea defences' in chilling wargames - while Beijing and Russia stage joint naval exercises in the Pacific. the CCP has more than 600 million citizens of military age, fit-for-service citizens from which it could theoretically source new troops endlessly. ◆ Bloomberg, 2023-8-16: China's PLA Daily published an editorial Wednesday saying Taiwan independence would mean the breakout of a war and that its pursuit would be a “road to ruin.”; The comments are the clearest signal yet ◆ The Hill, 2023-8-15: China and Russia are waging another Cold War; President Biden frequently expresses his fear about World War III ◆ New York Times, news brief 2023-8-14: A Taiwanese presidential contender (Lai Ching-te) walks a fine line... it's likely that he'll be more muted...Expect restraint...And his visit, however low-key, is also likely to prompt an escalation of Chinese military flights and naval maneuvers near Taiwan, bringing into focus the risks of real conflict over its future. ◆ The Hill, 2023-8-8: More ominously, the failure of the world's toughest-ever sanctions regime to bring Russia to heel could embolden China's expansionist designs against Taiwan, especially since similar sanctions against Beijing would have even less impact. Yet the U.S. is still not giving sufficient priority to deterring a Chinese attack on Taiwan. ◆ Washington Examiner, 2023-8-7: the predictable outcome now seems all but certain: whether during Taiwan vice-president Lai's visit or in the weeks following, the two nations' recent detente will fade amid their intractable political differences ◆ The WEEK UK, 2023-8-1: Taiwan's leaders generally believe Chinese efforts to incorporate the island into its political system will be attempted through economic coercion rather than military action ◆ Washington Post, 2023-7-29: U.S. to provide up to $345 million in military aid to Taiwan; a defense analyst in Taiwan was skeptical of the aid package and pointed to “serious delays in recent years in the delivery of numerous U.S. arms sales” to Taiwan. ◆ Bloomberg, 2023-7-29: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines have said they don’t see an effort by China to seize Taiwan by force as imminent ◆ Fox News, 2023-7-28 : The coming China war over Taiwan - The US should fight alongside allies, not in their place ◆ Wall Street Journal, 2023-7-28: Taiwan amps up Chinese-Invasion drills to deliver a message - War could happen. ◆ Bangkok Post, 2023-7-28: Beijing's military supremacy over Taiwan 'growing swiftly' - Japan's 2023 white paper - the gap between China and Taiwan appears to be growing year by year ... During the exercises (Last Aug.) , the Chinese military may have simulated operations for "invading Taiwan" ◆ Financial Times, 2023-7-23: Washington is reducing some long-term deployments in the Indo-Pacific,...the US's decision to help Ukraine only with weapons and the wavering of some European countries about support for Kyiv do not bode well for Taiwan ◆ BBC, 2023-7-27: many of Taiwan's conscript soldiers remain woefully under trained, and its weapons systems and military doctrine old and out of date. ◆ full text
|
pic. :
This websites group was ranked No.1 "introduction to Taiwan"
pic. : No.1 "introduction to Taiwan" on Bing at 2023-11-11, 2023-11-1, 2023-10-10, 2023-9-1, 2023-8-22, 2023-8-8, 2023-7-25, 2023-7-1, 2023-5-31, 2023-4-30, 2023-3-31, 2023-3-23, 2023-3-4, 2023-2-1, 2023-1-22, 2023-1-15, 2023-1-1, 2022-12-17, 2022-6-24, 2022-5-14, 2022-4-30, 2021-11-21, 2021-10-21, 2021-9-21, 2021-8-5, 2021-6-15, 2021-6-2, 2021-5-13, 2021-4-18, 3-3-2021, 1-29-2021, 01-01-2021, 12-6-2020, 11-29-2020, 11-11-2020, 10-25-2020, 8-5-2020, 8-2-2020, 7-6-2020, 6-21-2020, 6-11-2020, 6-5-2020, 5-21-2020, 5-12-2020, 5-8-2020, 4-20-2020, 4-10-2020, 3-20-2020, 2-24-2020,1-27-2020, 1-15-2020, 12-25-2019, 12-16-2019,11-6-2019, 10-6-2019, 9-17-2019, 8-3-2019, 7-29-2019, 6-27-2019, 4-29-2019; This websites group was ranked No.2 "introduction to Taiwan" on Bing, 2022-10-4, 2022-4-9, 2022-3-25, 2022-3-14, 2022-2-22, 2021-12-4 No.3 at 2022-10-23, 2022-9-5;
|
| resolve contrasts | |
| Chinese military | Taiwan's military |
| ♦The Guardian, 2023-8-7: the more dramatic parts of China's documentary on Taiwan invasion are pledges by PLA soldiers from various divisions to give up their lives in a potential attack on Taiwan. ── “If the conditions were too difficult to safely remove the naval mines in actual combat, we would use our own bodies to clear a safe pathway for our [landing] forces,” said a frogman; “fighter jet would be the last missile rushing towards the enemy" said a pilot. .theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/07/chinese-soldiers-pledge-to-sacrifice-their-lives-in-documentary-on-taiwan-invasion Associated Press | ♦Wall Street Journal, 2023-7-5: The professionalism and motivation of Taiwan's military are a particular concern, ... “A lot of young people who signed up for the four-year volunteer force decided to pay a penalty and dropped out early because they say they had come for the money—not to fight and not to die". wsj.com/articles/taiwan-china-ukraine-russia-hong-kong-military-war-517b87d?siteid=yhoof2&yptr=yahoo Yaroslav Trofimov Joyu Wang |
|
#MeToo in Taiwan |
|
| ★ New York Times, 2023-7-27 | our society remains patriarchal and hierarchical. Under Confucian values, women obey their fathers and their brothers and eventually their husbands. People are expected to respect and yield to their elders and superiors — in short, the powers that be... In a collectivist culture like ours, the burden of being nice and preserving group harmony falls on those with less power and authority nytimes.com/2023/07/27/opinion/taiwan-women-metoo.html |
| ★ Reuters, 2023-7-28 | Despite Taiwan's reputation as a progressive bastion in a conservative region - the first place in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage...to confront a problem long shrouded in shame and silence. Victims of abuse often stay silent due to what experts say is a tradition of victim-blaming, cultural pressure, and unequal power relationships. reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/years-after-metoo-first-swept-world-taiwan-races-respond-2023-07-28/ Sarah Wu |
◆ Washington Examiner, 2023-7-24: China and Russia train together to sink US submarines. the U.S. retains a key, though diminishing, advantage in undersea warfare. U.S. submarines remain a thorn in China's side. ◆ Daily Express, 2023-7-23: Japan says: If people all over the world have the will to support Taiwan, it would be very possible that we will provide some kind of support to Taiwan...the government would need to first secure the support of the population before intervening. ◆ Washington Post, 2023-7-17: Taiwan abandoning the One China framework aggravates the risk of war ◆ ResponsibleStatecraft.org, 2023-7-17: War with China over Taiwan? Don't expect US allies (Japan, Australia, Korea, Philippines, Thailand) to join ◆ Lowy Institute, 2023-7-17: the US will help Australia acquire nuclear-powered attack submarines. This will enable Australia to conduct operations such as anti-submarine warfare against China's subsurface fleet. Similarly, Japan will acquire counterstrike capabilities, which will include purchasing 400 Tomahawk cruise missiles from the United States. These would allow Japan to target China's missile launchers and command-and-control sites that would be key to an invasion of Taiwan. But there is uncertainty over not just the kind of support allies would provide, but over whether they would provide any at all. ◆ Wall Street Journal, 2023-7-15: Japanese leaders publicly shun discussion of a role in any Taiwan war, in part because public opinion is generally against getting ensnared in a conflict. ◆ National Interest, 2023-7-16: extension of the compulsory conscription program received backlash from younger Taiwanese. U.S. deterrence strategy without sufficient Taiwanese military capability and determination of Taiwanese people would lose its solid foundation ... it is likely that Beijing will act early against Taiwan ◆ National Review, 2023-7-15: the Chinese military is advantaged if a Taiwan invasion is viewed as a local, limited conflict... Janet Yellen: If reelected, president Biden may prefer not to fight for Taiwan. ◆ CNN, 2023-7-14: it may become too late for Washington to come to Taipei's rescue if large amounts of PLA planes and ships are already on station around the island. ◆ Reuters, 2023-7-14: US needs to speed up delivery of weapons like air defence systems and those that could target ships from land to Taiwan in the coming years. ◆ Bloomberg, 2023-7-13: Taiwan #MeToo scandals push Tsai government to toughen equality laws. The scandals contrast with the island's image as one of Asia's most progressive societies: 1st to legalize same-sex marriage, but“Speaking up takes a lot of courage, because speaking up in this culture may lead to victim shaming.”◆ West Point, 2023-7-11: <White Sun War: The Campaign for Taiwan> implicitly suggests that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan is essentially a land war, and highlights a fundamental component of warfare that applies to an attempted Chinese forceful reunification of Taiwan—that the war will be won or lost by land forces on the ground. ◆ Sky News, 2023-7-12: A war over Taiwan – a conflict cause mass casualties and destruction, international trade would plunge, supply shortages of essential goods would pile up and inflation would surge ◆ Council on Foreign Relations, 2023-7-7: U.S. reliance on Taiwanese chips gives it a major stake in preserving peace in the Taiwan Strait but does not make a war between China and Taiwan less likely. While Taiwan’s dominance of semiconductor production acts as a brake to hostilities by raising the cost to China of using force, it does not diminish China’s desire to gain control over Taiwan and is unlikely to act as a “silicon shield". ◆ Atlantic Council, 2023-7-7: Taiwan, is one of the world's most energy-insecure economies, relying on maritime imports for about 97 percent of its energy. Beijing appears increasingly capable of launching a quarantine, blockade,... ◆ Wall Street Journal, 2023-7-5: Taiwan is far from ready, many U.S. officials and analysts say. Taiwan's military budget is still only 2.4% of the GDP—compared with about 5% in Israel. The professionalism and motivation of Taiwan's military are a particular concern. ◆ full text
◆ NPR, 2023-7-3: More than 100 accusations of sexual harassment and assault have rocked Taiwan... — showing the gap between laws meant to protect victims and their implementation. ◆ CBS News, 2023-7-2: Several sources within the Pentagon tell 60 Minutes that if China invaded Taiwan, it could very well kick off in outer space, with both sides targeting the other's satellites that enable precision-guided weaponry. Cyber attacks on American cities and the sabotage of ports on the West Coast of the U.S. mainland could follow ◆ Economist, 2023-6-29: if Taiwan war did break out, even severe sanctions might do little. ◆ National Interest, 2023-6-29: it could require considerable time—potentially several months—for the United States to mobilize sufficient U.S.-based combat power to augment forward... the weaker Taiwan’s political leadership and its military are, the earlier and more robust the U.S. intervention must be to maximize the prospect that Taiwan will avoid defeat. ◆ The Diplomat, 2023-6-27: Washington and the U.S. public might opt against intervention if Taiwan's military rapidly collapsed or if the conflict appeared to be a lost cause. it could require potentially several months – for the US to mobilize sufficient U.S.-based combat power to ... fight a major contingency in East Asia. ◆ NPR.org, 2023-6-22: the Council on Foreign Relations says that the U.S. and China are 'drifting toward a war' over Taiwan. ◆ Wall Street Journal, 2023-6-22: can sanctions threat deter china from invading Taiwan? The answer, according to a new study, is a potential "yes" - but with big caveats ◆ FoxNews, 2023-6-19: Blinken says US 'does not support Taiwan independence' ◆ New York Post, 2023-6-19: Blinken ruffles feathers by stating US "does not support Taiwan independence" – as an inappropriate kowtow to America's greatest adversary. ◆ Bloomberg, 2023-6-16 : Henry Kissinger believes military conflict between China and Taiwan is likely if tensions continue on their current course ◆ The Diplomat, 2023-6-17: Taiwan has abandoned asymmetric defense reform in all but name, War on the Rocks: Instead, Taiwan is now planning to deter an invasion by threatening to retaliate with missile strikes against the Chinese homeland and by pitting Taiwanese units in direct combat against the vastly superior People's Liberation Army ◆ SCMP, 2023-6-17: Washington believes Beijing is leaning towards the stick rather than the carrot because of its increasingly tough stance, analysts warn ◆ National Interest, 2023-6-15: If China launches an invasion without first destroying America's military assets in the region, its ships will be left vulnerable to attack. However, if it launches a preemptive strike on U.S. forces, especially on American soil in Guam, it will experience the full wrath of a vengeful United States ◆ full text
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changes to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait |
|
| Atlantic Council, 2023-6-21: Effective deterrence requires credible threats to be matched with credible assurances. The G7 should make clear to Beijing it has no desire to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-research-reports/report/sanctioning-china-in-a-taiwan-crisis-scenarios-and-risks/ Charlie Vest and Agatha Kratz | AP (Germany Berlin), 2023-6-22: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned Beijing against using force to change the status quo with Taiwan news.yahoo.com/germany-warns-china-over-taiwan-103947340.html |
| Global Times (China), 2023-6-21: Blinken said "We remain opposed to any unilateral changes to the status quo by either side". China's Foreign Ministry: the three China-US Joint Communiqués means that the US recognizes the real status quo in the Taiwan Straits, that is, there is only one China in the world, and both sides of the Taiwan Straits belong to one China. However, the US has unilaterally attached the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances to its one-China policy, these are not consensus reached by both China and the US. The US is tampering with political commitments on one-China policy. globaltimes.cn/page/202306/1292976.shtml | |
◆ Washington Post, 2023-6-14: Biden and Xi recognize that war between the two nations would be suicidal for both. They understand that the most dangerous flash point is Taiwan. While the nations’ differences over Taiwan are irreconcilable, irreconcilable does not mean unmanageable ◆ Bloomberg, 2023-6-15: US Presses Taiwan Opposition Candidate Over China Policies; Washington will want to be assured that KMT's Hou has “a clear stance on China and international policy..." ◆ full text
economist /
The world's most liveable cities in 2023
|
|
| score |
cities in Asia |
| 90+ | Melbourne, Sydney, Aucland, Adelaide, Osaka(Japan), Perth, Tokyo(Japan), Brisbane, Wellington, Singapore |
| 80-90 | Seoul(Korea), Hong Kong(Chn), Busan(Korea), Taipei (Taiwan), Kaohsiung, Taichung |
| 60-80 | Noumea, Nantong, SuZhou, Beijing, ShenYang, Shanghai, etc |
|
top 5 cities:
Vienna 98.4, Copenhagen, Melbourne, Sydney,
Vancouver ... No.10 Osaka, Aucland 96 Score out of 100* five categories: stability, health care, culture and environment, education and infrastructure. |
|
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# MeToo in Taiwan |
| ◆ DW (Germany), 2023-6-13: Taiwan's culture remains conservative, and chauvinism still exists in workplaces and politics. Victims may be "judged" by the public for sharing details....they may not be treated justly ◆ The Guardian (UK), 2023-6-8: The belated #MeToo reckoning has exposed the deeply patriarchal norms that still govern Taiwanese society. ◆Wall Street Journal, 2023-6-7: Sexual misconduct allegations roil Taiwan's U.S.-friendly ruling party. |
|
discrimination in Taiwan |
| Taipei Times, 2023-6-12: Taiwanese government actively courts Chinese tourists by the hundred thousand, immigration authorities hand out insult after insult to people whose skins are a bit too brown... the reality of its suicidally discriminatory immigration policies is painful for those of us who live and work here. Besides, over 1,000 nurses, have come from Hong Kong and are unable to obtain residency to work .taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2023/06/12/2003801383 |
◆ TIME, 2023-6-7: in the event of a potential conflict between the U.S. and China over Taiwan, most Europeans would prefer to stay out of it.… It’s only when such events happen when we would really be able to see whether European perceptions and attitudes have changed or not ◆ Washington Examiner, 2023-6-1: the PLA has a strong prospect of defeating the U.S. over Taiwan even if the U.S. commits its full forces. Elbridge Colby : "If Taiwan is so blithe about its own defense, why should Americans stick their necks out? ◆ Economist, 2023-5-31: The next Taiwan president will take office with the island at the centre of a bubbling superpower showdown ◆ Washington Post, 2023-5-31: Taiwanese voters' choice is between a ruling party determined to maintain Taiwan's political independence, and an opposition that sees closer ties with China as the only viable path. ◆ Bloomberg, 2023-5-31: China could decide to launch a series of actions short of war — seizing one of Taiwan's small outlying islands, say, or interfering with Taiwanese shipping ... without provoking a US military response. ◆ The Christian Science Monitor, 2023-5-30: Taiwan's rep. in US: Taiwan is preparing to defend itself, and not just rely on other democracies to save the day. The challenges that the US is experiencing in the defense supply chain have certainly had an impact on Taiwan. ◆ Washington Post, 2023-5-29: Choosing Taiwan over Ukraine is frighteningly misguided. Yes, China is a greater military threat than present-day Russia. A turn toward Taiwan will most likely cause us to fail in both places. ◆ full text
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Taiwan could soon be under US nuclear protection? |
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| ◆ Sky News (Australia), 2023-5-28 | Analysts warn the ‘nuclear umbrella’ agreement could be globally catastrophic as it would mean the US could use nuclear weapons if Taiwan was attacked. skynews.com.au/world-news/united-states/taiwan-could-soon-be-under-us-nuclear-protection/video/732789a9ca7ee4de4c33a614a6a24c35 |
| ◆ SCMP (Hong Kong), 2023-5-28 | John Mearscheimer (U. Chicago):It would send a clear message to Beijing that "if they are to attack Taiwan, it will escalate to the nuclear level"。Chang Yen-ting: "Taiwan's priority should be to get more advanced and effective weapons instead of seeking to be incorporated into the nuclear umbrella," a security analyst at the National Policy Foundation, says until today, the US has not entirely committed to using nuclear weapons to help defend South Korea in the event of a nuclear attack from North Korea." msn.com/en-xl/news/other/us-nuclear-umbrella-for-taiwan-solid-cross-strait-shield-or-wishful-thinking/ar-AA1bMtGS |
| ◆ EurAsian Times, 2023-5-26 | There has also not been any statement or reaction from either the Department of State, Department of Defense, or the White House on the statement from Joseph Wu. This implies the US has no plans to defend Taiwan using nuclear weapons. eurasiantimes.com/taiwan-eyes-us-nuclear-umbrella-to-deter-chinese-invasion/ Parth Satam |
| ◆ Benzinga, 2023-5-29 | Xi Jinping 'Unlikely' To Go Nuclear On Taiwan Amid Taipei's Bid For US Umbrella: Defense Experts, given the radiation spillover problem and the proximity of Taiwan to the Chinese mainland," |
◆
Fortune, 2023-5-21:
Warren
Buffett told Japan's Nikkei that
the threat of war was a “consideration” in dumping the bulk of the stake
in TSMC. Musk told the Financial
Times that a conflict over Taiwan is inevitable.
His comments did not go over well in Taiwan
◆
The Guardian, 2023-5-22:
over 90% of
the world's semiconductors are made in the place
many US officials think could be the site of the next global conflict: Taiwan. ◆
Space News, 2023-5-22:
Just the threat of an
attack on GPS could be enough to deter America from defending
Taiwan, according to some analysts. Loss of GPS would result in a profound
degradation of America's military strike
capabilities and severe economic and societal disruption to the U.S.
homeland.
◆
New York Times, 2023-5-17:
As China
looms over Taiwan's Presidential
race, the opposition
picks a
moderate Hou Yu-ih,
trying to appeal to voters wary of Beijing
◆
Financial Times, 2023-5-15:
even if
the US had a broader plan to thwart Chinese economic growth, any such
efforts would probably be unsuccessful.
Xi should
understand that global political power flows from economic power. China does
not need to win a shooting war to expand its international power and
influence. ◆ Washington Post, 2023-5-12:
Taiwan's low defense spending
is often explained by Taiwanese voters’ expectations of U.S.
protection. Others
might calculate that the stakes of China’s threats are not as high as the
United States says, and that their lives might be able to continue mostly as
normal even if Beijing did alter the cross-strait status quo
◆Washington Post, 2023-5-10:
A war involving Taiwan would depend more on the U.S. Navy and Air Force, as
well as hybrid warfare tools that are used in information and cyber
operations.◆
Foreign Policy in Focus,
2023-5-10:
Unlike Russia, China seems unwilling to sacrifice the country's
economic well-being on the pyre of nationalism ◆
19FortyFive,
2023-5-10:
By
stacking their heaviest punches upfront, Beijing thinks that they can render
the Americans so dazed and confused — inflicting so much damage at the
outset of a fight — that Washington will stand down and abandon Taiwan
◆ Washington
Times,
2023-5-9:
Taipei unnerved by investor fears, apocalyptic rhetoric,
Taiwanese officials are trying to
tone down alarmist comments made by U.S.
investment gurus and policymakers about the
risks of a clash with China,
"the fearmongering talk coming out of
Washington isn't helping"
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pic.: No.2 "introduction to Taiwan" on Yahoo, 2023-8-22, 2023-8-8, 2023-5-31, 2022-4-30, 2022-4-9, 2022-3-25, 2022-3-14, 2022-2-25, 2022-2-22; No.1 "introduction to Taiwan" on Yahoo, 2021-10-21, 2021-9-21, 2021-8-5, 2021-6-15, 2021-6-2, 2021-5-13, 2021-4-18, 3-3-2021, 1-29-2021, 12-6-2020, 11-29-2020, 11-11-2020, 10-25-2020, 8-5-2020, 7-6-2020
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◆Business Insider, 2023-5-3: In first-of-its-kind drill, US Army special operators train to defend Taiwan against Chinese attack, while the "ultimate backstop" remains America's nuclear capabilities, according to the Pentagon's National Defense Strategy ◆ Daily Express, UK, 2023-5-3: WW3 fears as Taiwan issues a threatening statement about how it intends to handle imminent China invasion ◆ le Monde, 2023-4-30: China's military exercises in the Taiwan Strait are a reminder of how fragile the island's status quo is ◆ Brookings, 2023-4-17: the Taiwan voters are deeply pragmatic. a significant majority of the Taiwan voters are in the middle ◆ The Register, 2023-4-22: Taiwan asks US if it could chill out on the anti-China rhetoric "We're trying to run a chip business here" ◆ New York Times, 2023-4-18: Fear of China is pitting Taiwan's people against each other ◆ Brookings, 2023-4-15: While Taiwan clearly is under growing military threat, it also is facing a simultaneous and intensifying Chinese political campaign to wear down the will of the Taiwan people. ◆
