China plans to seize Taiwan on 'much faster timeline,' Blinken says

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Source: Washington Post

Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused China of speeding up plans to seize Taiwan as Chinese President Xi Jinping looks set to secure a precedent-breaking third term at a Chinese Communist Party congress this week.

“There has been a change in the approach from Beijing toward Taiwan in recent years,” Blinken told an event at Stanford University on Monday.

This includes “a fundamental decision that the status quo was no longer acceptable and that Beijing was determined to pursue reunification on a much faster timeline,” he said. Blinken did not provide details on the claim of a shorter timeline and said China may be willing to use coercive means, a prospect that is “creating tremendous tensions.”

Responding on Tuesday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry described Blinken’s comments as an example of the United States reneging on its commitment to the one-China policy, which acknowledges Beijing’s position that there is only one China.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/10/18/china-seize-taiwan-plan-blinken/

[marble falls]

1. Nothing new here re: China and Taiwan, they've been at this point for over 70 years, but more ...

... importantly - speculating "crisis" investors get an opportunity to raise energy and food pricing.

[FredGarvin]

2. Especially his WestExec clients

In December 2020, Secretary of State nominee Antony Blinken declared that clients of WestExec included "investment giant Blackstone, Bank of America, Facebook, Uber, McKinsey & Company, the Japanese conglomerate SoftBank, the pharmaceutical company Gilead, the investment bank Lazard, Boeing, AT&T, the Royal Bank of Canada, LinkedIn and the venerable Sotheby's"

[mahina]

5. Welcome to DU.

[Irish_Dem]

3. Seems logical that China would take Taiwan now while the US is focused on Ukraine.

China obviously took notes on Putin's disaster and will make sure they do a better job when they hit Taipei.

[Ford_Prefect]

4. FWIW Chinese troops and officers have not served against a foe in the field in some time.

They haven't faced anyone with the resources the US has available this afternoon, or next week.
To say nothing of what the regional and international reaction would be.

I believe they think we would not do anything. I think they imagine they could do a surprise attack before anyone could respond and hold the Taiwanese people hostage against reprisal.

I think that would be a very foolish thing to attempt. It would not go as smoothly as they hope. It could be messy and very expensive in lives and hardware both...AND China will be holding the bag with no place to hide.

The Chinese economy is not nearly as strong as it was in the boom years. They have unresolved diplomatic and financial issues with their nearest neighbors. They imagnine a divided Congress won't act to protect Taiwan. I believe they are wrong.

[TeamProg]

6. It will be a quagmire for China forever. China's economy is over stretched right now.

https://www.taiwan.gov.tw/content_3.php

[Martin68]

7. We were hoping the Russian debacle in Ukraine might deter the Chinese from invading Taiwan.

If Xi is determined that annexing Taiwan will vindicate his leadership, we are in for a very bloody fight in which many Chinese and Taiwanese will die. I hope reason prevails over politics in this case, but I'm not confident it will. It could be that China will try to prevail before US weapons are delivered.