But here’s the real rub: Saying we WOULD defend Taiwan militarily does not mean we COULD do so successfully. These doctrinal debates over strategic ambiguity versus strategic clarity seem strangely disconnected from military reality. Brookings.edu
Month: June 2022
China sends 30 warplanes into Taiwan air defense zone
China sent 30 warplanes into Taiwan’s air defense zone ahead of a high-profile visit by US Senator Tammy Duckworth. What do these incursions reveal about China’s game plan? Palki Sharma tells you. Wion
China’s spies are not always as good as advertised
They are adept at hacking and harassing dissidents. But in other areas they have a lot to learn The Economist
Will Anger Over Zero-Covid Policy & Economy be Jinping’s downfall
Chinese President Xi Jinping is missing from the Chinese newspapers. This comes as people in Beijing and Shanghai are protesting against Covid lockdowns in the city. Crux
China has the power to take Taiwan, but…
But there’s a caveat; while China could likely prevail, any victory would come at an extremely bloody price for both Beijing and its adversaries. CNN
Residency applications rejected by Taiwan over ties to China
Law had fulfilled the requirements for permanent residency but his application had been pending for months. Uncertain if it would ever come through, he and his wife decided to move to Britain, where their applications for British national overseas status were approved after just five days. Washington Post
What ‘Pro-Life’ Means in Communist China
From 2012 to 2016, members of the well-known Reformed congregation took to the streets of Sichuan’s capital on Children’s Day to advocate against abortion. Throughout the year, the church organized anti-abortion public lectures. But activists frequently faced government pushback; police often blocked speakers from leaving their homes or broke into the venue to halt events. Christianity Today
Taiwan to hold more talks with US
Deng has pushed strongly for Taiwan to be included in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, or IPEF, one part of the U.S. administration’s effort to counter what it says is Beijing’s increasing economic and military coercion in the region. U.S. News & World Report
China eases Covid restrictions after two months
The Chinese city of Shanghai, the country’s economic centre and a global trade hub, has eased Covid curbs after a two-month lockdown.
At midnight local time (16:00 GMT Tuesday), restrictions were relaxed to allow most people to move freely around the city of some 25 million people. YahooNews
China says it conducted ‘readiness patrol’ around Taiwan
China, which claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has stepped up its military maneuvers around the island over the past two years or so, as it seeks to pressure Taipei to accept its sovereignty claims. MSN