Soldiers operate an M10 tank destroyer during a military exercise at an army base in Kaohsiung County, southern Taiwan. Reuters/Pichi Chuang
Cary Huang, SCMP: Taiwan’s cosying up to Trump could spark a China-US war
Taipei seems happy to exploit Sino-American tensions for its diplomatic struggle with Beijing. Perhaps it should cast its mind back to the 1960s – when the US openly debated nuclear war over its islands.
As the confrontation between the United States and China escalates, Taiwan is being pushed back to the top of the agenda in American foreign policy circles.
And, for its part, Taipei seems keen to exploit this rare opportunity to strengthen its ties with the US, its most important protector, to boost its international standing, which has suffered major setbacks recently due to its diplomatic struggle with Beijing.
In his landmark speech that signalled a fundamental shift in US policy on China, at the Hudson Institute on October 4, US Vice-President Mike Pence took a forceful line on Taiwan, as he criticised efforts by Beijing to lure away the island’s diplomatic partners and force foreign companies to stop referring to it as a country.
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WNU Editor: This former U.S. General believes a war will happen within 15 years .... Retired U.S. General Believes War With China Is Likely In 15 Years (October 14, 2018). This rhetoric from China also does not help .... Chinese Defense Minister: Military Will Act 'At Any Cost' To Prevent Taiwan Split.
