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 ¡» New York Times, 2024-7-3 : China seized Taiwanese Boat (Fishing illegally) -  a move could add to tensions between Beijing and President Lai Ching-te of Taiwan.  ¡» The Atlantic Council, 2024-6-27: ... sufficient bravery, preparation, and will.  The Taiwanese ask themselves, ¡§Are we made of the same stuff?¡¨¡» 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.  ¡» Reuters, 2024-6-2: Prospect of peaceful 'reunification' with Taiwan is being increasingly "eroded" by Taiwanese separatists and external forces, China says ¡» Daily Express, 2024-6-3: China's Defence Chief asserted that China's military is prepared to engage forcefully, and warned of an imminent "perilous situation of war and danger"  ¡» 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.

¡» 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 ¡» Foreign Policy, 2024-5-12: China and the U.S. are numb to the real risk of war.  The pair are dangerously close to the edge of nuclear war over Taiwan¡Xagain.   ¡» Business Insider, 2024-5-10: China is untangling its economy from the West. It could be preparing for long-term tensions ¡X and an invasion of Taiwan ¡» ABC News, 2024-5-1:  Does China's economy make them more likely to invade Taiwan or less likely?  It may very well drive Xi if he thinks that he's not going to catch up with the United States in terms of being the biggest economy, it may drive him to go for this sooner. ¡» Wall Street Journal, 2024-4-30: Taiwan's economic growth beats expectations in strong start to year. ¡»  The Telegraph, 2024-4-30: The relentless purchases and the sheer quantity are clear signs that this is a political project which is prioritised by the leadership in Beijing because of what they see is a looming confrontation with the United States. ¡§Of course it¡¦s connected also to plans for a military invasion of Taiwan ¡» 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. ¡» 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.  ¡»  SCMP, 2024-4-28: Cross-strait tourism has typically mirrored the ups and downs in relations between the island and mainland China. ¡» Daily Express (UK), 2024-4-27: China is gearing up to strike Taiwan and could hit the self-governed territory in just a few months as Beijing and the West lock horns ¡» SUN (UK), 2024-4-24: China building army in space ¡V tripling number of spy satellites amid Taiwan invasion fears ¡» Associated Press, The Hill, 2024-4-24: China blasts US military aid to Taiwan, saying the island is entering a ¡¥dangerous situation¡¦ ¡» Economist, 2024-4-18: China is talking to Taiwan's next leader, just not directly ... being granted an audience with Xi Jinping, Ma Ying-jeou (Taiwan's former president ) wrote that Mr Xi had ¡§extended an olive branch to us¡¨.  Mr Ma hoped that Lai Ching-te, Taiwan's next president, would ¡§put the people first and respond pragmatically¡¨. ¡» Reuters, 2024-4-19: Taiwan says new Chinese air routes threaten Taiwanese islands' flight safety ¡» Daily Express, 2024-4-19: China on brink of Taiwan invasion as NATO braces for World War III ¡» Wall Street Journal, 2024-4-13: many of Kinmen's (Taiwan's front-line, just 3 miles away from mainland)  residents have much more direct kinship ties to people on the mainland.  The use of force against Kinmen would signal that China can no longer hope to win the rest of Taiwan through anything but force, and would make such an invasion that much more difficult. ¡» Reuters, 2024-4-10: China's Xi says nobody can stop 'family reunion' with Taiwan ¡» Fox News, 2024-4-6: The largest coordinated display since last year - The incursion into Taiwanese territory by People's Liberation Army (PLA) planes and sea vessels followed a Tuesday phone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden.¡» Newsweek, 2024-3-29 : China doubles down on friction in Taiwan's front-line islands ¡» Asia Times, 2024-3-27 : the government has failed to make military service a viable career choice - Military service is a hard life with low pay, bad housing and no GI-Bill sort of benefits... simply isn't respected in traditional Chinese society...  Taiwan's ¡§reserve force¡¨ is shambolic and that's being charitable.   There is no ¡§territorial¡¨ or militia force, either.   Taiwan also lacks a civil defense scheme. ¡» AFP, The Telegraph, 2024-3-24 : US military officials have warned that China could invade Taiwan by 2027 ¡» Washington Examiner, 2024-3-22: Adm. John Aquilino, U.S. Navy commander and head of the Indo-Pacific forces, told the House Armed Services Committee that America is steadily less prepared for a war with China that now appears to be right around the corner. ¡» New York Times, 2024-3-24 :  Two Chinese survivors told Chinese media that the Taiwanese vessel collided with them, while the Taiwanese Coast Guard said  the two boats ¡§made contact¡¨ at times during the chase.  Chinese officials are now waiting for a report from Taiwanese investigators into the death incident; tensions could climb if Beijing disputes their conclusions ¡» War On The Rocks, 2024-3-21:  Taipei has not made the necessary preparations. Taiwan's navy continues to prioritize small numbers of large surface combatants over acquiring the ¡§large number of small things,¡¨.. ¡» 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. ¡» Wall Street Journal, 2024-3-18 : Without shifting to a full asymmetrical defense approach, Taiwan risks a quick defeat if invaded,  the Taiwanese military¡¦s penchant for pricey weapons limits funds for more effective tools such as shoulder-fired missiles. ¡§The asymmetrical approach advocated by some people would put the whole of Taiwan into a meat grinder" , said a former Taiwanese foreign-affairs official ¡» 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. ¡» 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