WORLD NEWS
US predicts date that China will invade Taiwan
Beijing sent 25 fighter jets and three warships to the Taiwanese island in recent days, said to be with the aim of intimidating the Taiwanese Navy.
The international geopolitical media spotlight remains focused on the United States and China, who have recently intervened indirectly in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and are now using Taiwan as a proxy for hostilities. The dispute between Taiwan and China stems from a nationalist conflict, with both claiming the island as part of their territory.
The US has entered into this dispute, providing weapons and intelligence, with Director William Burns warning that the US knew “as a matter of intelligence” that Xi had ordered his military forces to be ready to conduct an invasion of Taiwan by 2027. As evidence of the serious nature of this, the reports state that China has sent 25 F-16 combat planes and three warships to the vicinity of the Asian island.
In other news:
19 planes cross the Strait, according to Taiwan
According to Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense, 19 of the F-16s passed through Taiwanese airspace, and the three warships continue to operate on the border that separates both territories, the Taiwan Strait. This tactic by China is a form of attrition and intimidation, known as “grey area” tactics, aimed at raising the level of tension in Taipei.
Response from Taiwan
In response, the Taiwanese government has ordered the deployment of troops, ships, and a monitoring and rapid response system in case of a Chinese offensive. Taiwan has also extended conscription to one year and strengthened its army by purchasing military equipment from the US.
Can another war break out again?
Similar to the situation between Russia and Ukraine, China and Taiwan are in a tentative stage, with Beijing considering the feasibility of invading Taiwan. Taiwan is preparing for a possible military offensive by China, and the US believes its intervention could be too late if Beijing decides to invade. Representative Mike Gallagher has warned that time is not on their side when it comes to conflicts with China.