Taiwan: China's next target? | DW Analysis

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#China #Taiwan #CrossStraitRelations
Taiwan: China's next target? | DW Analysis
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Despite China’s increasingly aggressive behaviour both at home and abroad, Beijing’s open threat to take control of Taiwan by force is receiving comparatively little attention – leaving this flourishing liberal democracy uniquely isolated and vulnerable. The threat may be far more imminent than many imagine. According to Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu “the Chinese authoritarian leaders may find Taiwan as a convenient scapegoat. Therefore Taiwan needs to be doubly concerned about a possible Chinese use of force against us.”

CHAPTERS

5:09 What is Taiwan?
16:05 Why China wants Taiwan
26:25 Scenario 1: Chipping away
33:10 Scenario 2: Crimea 2.0
41:18 Scenario 3: Invasion
49:05 What now?

In this video DW's Chief International Editor Richard Walker explores the roots of the threat in depth – aided by military and strategy experts from Taiwan, China, the United States and Germany. He charts the dramatic expansion in Beijing’s navy and advanced missile arsenal that is shifting the balance of power against the U.S. in the Pacific. The video examines three possible scenarios: China gradually chipping away at Taiwan’s stability via military and hybrid means; a sudden, Crimea-style annexation of outlying islands; and a full-scale invasion. This final scenario would pose extremely dangerous for global stability. “Everything that happens in this scenario happens under the shadow of a potential nuclear war,” warns Ian Easton, author of “The China Invasion Threat.”

Adding to Taiwan’s profound vulnerability, there is growing doubt that the any country would come to its aid in the event of Chinese military action – or even have the capability to do so. “Even five years ago, the ability of the United States to come to Taiwan’s defense was greater than it is today,” warns Bonnie Glaser, one of Washington’s top experts on the region. “It has eroded over the last decade. And that is, I think, problematic.”

In the U.S., Congressman Ted Yoho of the House Foreign Affairs Committee explains his bill that would commit the U.S. to come to Taiwan’s defence, ending the longstanding “strategic ambiguity” that he and some experts see as destabilizing. But could this in itself pose greater dangers? Europe must also take the threat more seriously, argues leading German expert Janka Oertel. “We have not devoted enough energy to these kinds of scenarios. What we lack is a European conversation about what kind of player Europe in the future would like to be in these kinds of scenarios.” m concludes with a passionate plea from Joseph Wu for democracies to end Taiwan’s diplomatic isolation from global bodies like the U.N. and the World Health Organization: “It's not fair to the Taiwanese people.”
What should the democratic world do to minimize the risk of an open conflict between China and Taiwan?

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#China #Taiwan #CrossStraitRelations
5,025 Comments
Auggie Giuseppe
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Evan R
Evan R
3 hours ago
This is released on the day the US agreed on a 7billion $ weapons deal with Taiwan.

26


richard mayger
richard mayger
4 hours ago
Reading the comments I can only hope I'm not in the fallout zone

17


王大锤
王大锤
45 minutes ago
I am a mainland chinese,and i love taiwan,if nessesory i will fight for TAIWAN by my ways

15


Margaretha Winarto
Margaretha Winarto
17 hours ago
' If history repeats itself, and the unexpected always happens, how incapable must Man be of learning from experience' - George Bernard Shaw

34


JJJ Danceline
JJJ Danceline
16 hours ago
Incredibly well made piece. Leave it up to CCP to evoke WW III.

8


K
K
12 hours ago
Taiwan no 1 🇹🇼

16


CAMIDRCS
CAMIDRCS
3 hours ago
My general opinion is that I hope China eventually becomes like France a liberal socialist. But, soviet union style system is not right.

3


Ruth C R
Ruth C R
15 hours ago
Let’s include Taiwan 🇹🇼

50


Craig Cowie
Craig Cowie
3 hours ago
Come on taiwan look what india did to china

19


ElPocho DelMundo
ElPocho DelMundo
12 hours ago
We need to move in   in as unobtrusively yet  continuous manner as possible to defend them.