China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier battle group on exercise in the South China Sea. Photo: Xinhua
Cary Huang, SCMP: For US and China, the real friction over Taiwan is yet to come
US National Security Adviser John Bolton’s trip to Taipei and Trump’s stance on submarines could make the biggest mess of China-US ties since Nixon.
Even if the United States and China can find a way out of their simmering trade dispute, the next topic that could provoke an ugly clash may already be upon them: Taiwan.
A string of recent events has served to highlight escalating tensions between Washington, Beijing and Taipei. These culminated in the past week in a series of tit-for-tat military displays in the Taiwan Strait.
On Wednesday, the People’s Liberation Army followed up its massive show of strength in the South China Sea a week earlier by heading to the strait – reportedly on the orders of Chinese President Xi Jinping – to carry out unexpected live-fire drills.
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WNU Editor: Is Taiwan's independence critical to U.S. national security in Asia? This is a debate that is now starting.
