To give a synopsis: In Taiwan, there is the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the Kuomintang (KMT). The latter is more pro-Chinese and supportive of unification efforts. Over 90% of Taiwan's inhabitants are ethnically Han Chinese. Congressman Seth Moulton implied that the U.S. could attack the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), which was criticized by Taiwan's Minister of National Defense.
Ukraine has provoked a great deal of discussion on this site. I'm wondering what your stances are on the Taiwan issue. If any of you have an interest in it, I would be intrigued to hear what you have to say.
www.taiwannews.com.tw
The defense minister said that the armed forces are responsible for defending Taiwan and its people, materials, and strategic resources. Therefore, "if [the United States] want to bomb this or that," the armed forces will not tolerate this kind of situation...
To some, the takeaway is that even a seemingly invincible foe can be defeated if a society stands firm, an inspiration for Taiwan’s own effort to resist a feared invasion by China. Others draw the opposite lesson from the images of smoldering Ukrainian cities. Anything is better than war, they say, and Taiwan should do all it can to avoid provoking Beijing’s wrath, even if that means painful compromises.
Chinese leaders have watched with alarm how the Russian military stumbled in Ukraine, suffering high casualties and a series of setbacks that helped trigger the brief mutiny by the Wagner paramilitary group last month. But there is no indication that Xi, who has already squelched the autonomy and civil liberties enjoyed by Hong Kong, has become less determined to take Taiwan because of Russia’s difficulties, U.S. officials say.
While the U.S. has no binding obligation to defend Taiwan and has long maintained a policy of strategic ambiguity on the issue, President Biden repeatedly cautioned that, unlike in Ukraine, the U.S. military would intervene directly should China attempt to seize the island by force. Before American troops deploy, however, the island would have to resist the first blows on its own. So far, despite recent improvements, it is far from ready, many U.S. officials and analysts say.
Currently, most draftees spend their time cleaning floors and picking weeds rather than learning how to repel Beijing’s People’s Liberation Army, said ret. Adm. Lee Hsi-min, a former chief of Taiwan’s military who has become a vocal critic of the island’s military preparedness.
Ukraine has provoked a great deal of discussion on this site. I'm wondering what your stances are on the Taiwan issue. If any of you have an interest in it, I would be intrigued to hear what you have to say.
Defense minister says Taiwan will not let US 'blow up TSMC' during Chinese attack | Taiwan News | 2023-05-09 18:13:00
'If they want to bomb this or that,' armed forces will not tolerate this kind of situation | 2023-05-09 18:13:00
www.taiwannews.com.tw
To some, the takeaway is that even a seemingly invincible foe can be defeated if a society stands firm, an inspiration for Taiwan’s own effort to resist a feared invasion by China. Others draw the opposite lesson from the images of smoldering Ukrainian cities. Anything is better than war, they say, and Taiwan should do all it can to avoid provoking Beijing’s wrath, even if that means painful compromises.
Chinese leaders have watched with alarm how the Russian military stumbled in Ukraine, suffering high casualties and a series of setbacks that helped trigger the brief mutiny by the Wagner paramilitary group last month. But there is no indication that Xi, who has already squelched the autonomy and civil liberties enjoyed by Hong Kong, has become less determined to take Taiwan because of Russia’s difficulties, U.S. officials say.
While the U.S. has no binding obligation to defend Taiwan and has long maintained a policy of strategic ambiguity on the issue, President Biden repeatedly cautioned that, unlike in Ukraine, the U.S. military would intervene directly should China attempt to seize the island by force. Before American troops deploy, however, the island would have to resist the first blows on its own. So far, despite recent improvements, it is far from ready, many U.S. officials and analysts say.
Currently, most draftees spend their time cleaning floors and picking weeds rather than learning how to repel Beijing’s People’s Liberation Army, said ret. Adm. Lee Hsi-min, a former chief of Taiwan’s military who has become a vocal critic of the island’s military preparedness.
