There has been cross-strait tensions that have been rising in recent months, with Taiwan complaining for a year or more of repeated missions by China’s air force near the self-ruled island that Taiwan claims as its own. China has not ruled out using force to bring Taiwan under its control, despite the island’s claim that it is an independent country that will defend its freedom and democracy. The United States said they would commit to send military forces in the event of an invasion. “I hope that China’s leaders think very carefully about this and about not precipitating a crisis,” Blinken said (The U.S. Secretary of State) letting China know they are there to help defend Taiwan if needed.
This is important because China after years of rising military spending and just now boasting the world’s second-largest defence budget behind the US, totalling about $290 billion this year. Chinese President Xi Jinping has vowed to pursue and unite Taiwan by peaceful means. Additionally although they said they want to unite taiwan with China peaceful, the biggest obstacle to the reunification of China was the Taiwan independence force. However Taiwan does not agree with this mainly because of China system of government and wanting to stay independent.
This relates to what we have been learning in class about the Geopolitics of the Taiwan. Taiwan’s existing natural advantages, civilian infrastructure and asymmetrical warfare capabilities. It is designed to deter and, if necessary, defeat an invasion by China with the help of the US. This is causing Taiwan to become a diplomatic hotspot for superpowers China and the US. Though the US has no bases on Taiwan, American officials said tha last month that special forces have been training with the Taiwan military for more than a year now including maritime operations with Taiwan military leaders.