Snowball: Can Xi do a Putin?
Zelenskyy’s cries to shut down the UN may be ignored, but an invasion of Taiwan by China could change this world forever
Source - Taiwan government
Looking at China’s stance on Russia’s military action in Ukraine, it is clear the communist leaders (or just emperor Xi) are considering a similar invasion on Taiwan (a rich country that claims it was never a part of China; both staring at an aging demography). Today, China’s Ministry of Defence spokesperson, Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, warned, “The Chinese People’s Liberation Army will take powerful measures, resolutely defeat all kinds of foreign force interferences and Taiwan secessionist attempts and firmly safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
This was because the US, which has been dumped into the backseat by a wavering Biden, made a last-ditch effort to look brave (and to revive respect for its weapons) this week. The Biden administration approved a $95 million arms package to Taiwan — to upgrade the Patriot missile defence system in Taiwan at least for the past 16 years. Lack of a missile defence system has been largely blamed for Ukraine’s powerlessness against Russia’s short and medium range missiles and advanced aircraft. Obviously, an upgrade was long due given China sent over 300 jets to Taiwan in 2021 alone without any repercussions.
The move rudely interferes in China’s internal affairs
– China Defence Ministry
However, its audacity could be tested now and quickly snowball into a crisis the world has never seen before. “US’ arms sales to the island of Taiwan severely violates the one-China principle.” Tan said, adding, “The move rudely interferes in China’s internal affairs, seriously undermines China’s sovereignty and security interests, and greatly harms the China-US relations and ties between the two countries’ militaries, as well as the peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits.”
Such words do sound like coming from Putin just before his army decided to walk into and over Ukraine. Biden called Putin a butcher – the best he probably could – and neither NATO nor the UN have done anything concrete to stop Putin so far.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said recently that Russian troops were destroying Ukrainian cities, adding that the security that the UN must guarantee was simply not there. “Are you ready to close the United Nations? Do you think the time for international law is gone?” If not, “you need to act immediately”.
Xi’s calculation of that “immediately” will decide the fate of Taiwan…and the world.
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