… the notion that the Biden administration has undercut strategic ambiguity may be overstated. Instead, the president and his team are continuing the Trump administration’s process of upgrading strategic ambiguity and the One-China framework to more pragmatically protect Taiwan’s democracy and security as Chinese president Xi Jinping heightens Chinese nationalism and embraces a more offensive approach. Nationalinterest.org
Month: May 2022
China doesn’t need ‘patronising’ lectures about its record…
In a video call, the Chinese leader says human rights should not be used as a ‘pretext to interference’ in countries’ internal affairs South China Morning Post
What you need to know about China-Taiwan tensions
Less than a decade ago, ties seemed to be on the mend as the two sides — separated by a strait that is fewer than 80 miles (128 kilometers) wide at its narrowest point — deepened economic, cultural and even political engagements. But today, relations are at their lowest point in decades — raising fears of military escalation, even as experts caution that an imminent all-out war remains unlikely. CNN
Satellite Images Hint at China’s Taiwan Invasion Plans
China’s Aircraft Carrier Just Sent a Warning to Taiwan
The Liaoning, the PLAN’s first aircraft carrier, had wrapped up three weeks of exercises and is now expected to arrive at its home base at the port of Qingdao in Shandong province this weekend. The carrier will begin a significant maintenance break, and its crew will begin a rest cycle. 19fortyfive.com
U.S. Marines train for possible future Chinese invasion of Taiwan
As the war of words ramps up between the Biden administration and Chinese government over the status of Taiwan, U.S. forces in Japan are gearing up for a possible conflict. This comes as President Biden wraps up his first official trip to Asia where he said the U.S. will step in if China invades Taiwan. Ed O’Keefe reports. CBS News
China (Mainland) & Taiwan Vaccination Rates 5/26/22
| Location | Doses given | Fully Vaccinated | % Fully vaccinated |
| Taiwan | 54.3M | 18.9M | 80.2% |
| China | 3.37B | 1.25B | 88.7% |
Source Google
47% of Taiwan’s COVID deaths this year have occurred within 3 days
The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) on Monday (May 23) announced that nearly half of the country’s COVID deaths have occurred within three days of diagnosis. taiwannews.com.tw
Alleged audio: China commanders planning for war with Taiwan
The 57-minute audio clip was allegedly recorded during a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee of Guangdong on May 14 and published by Lude Media on Monday (May 23). According to the media outlet, this is the first audio recording from a “top secret military meeting” in China ever released to the public. taiwannews.com.tw
Leaked documents: Inside a Chinese Internment camp
China insists the network of secure facilities built across its far western region of Xinjiang are simply “schools” for combatting extremism to which “students” sign up willingly. But the contents of the leaked Xinjiang Police Files suggest a different story. BBC