Rumors have swirled on both sides of the Taiwan Strait since the beginning of last year that Chinese President Xi Jinping was mulling taking back the wayward, self-ruling island of Taiwan in one fell swoop amid growing militancy among the Chinese masses.
Some have gone so far as to suggest that by the early 2020s the two sides would be in a state of belligerence as Xi, unlike his predecessors, has no scruples against waging a full-blown war to recapture what Beijing considers a renegade province.
They say that the year 2022, the end of Xi’s second tenure as the general secretary of the Communist Party of China, would be the deadline for him to exert his unrestrained powers to redeem the glory of the Middle Kingdom, after Xi has made “China dream” and “great revitalization” the tag lines of his rule.
“Xi’s grand visions will become empty platitudes if he fails to take back Taiwan before his second term ends, and in that case his ‘China dream’ will become a pipe dream, and he is fully aware of that,” said one analyst.
No one will doubt that China’s Central Military Commission and the People’s Liberation Army have in place a host of all-encompassing combat plans of tactics and deployment to suit all war scenarios, as well as stratagems to deter or fend off intervention by the US or Japan.
The Chinese military must have been updating these plans from time to time to reflect changes in geopolitics and Taiwan’s own defenses, for Xi to choose from should he feel that the time is ripe for a once-and-for-all, momentous action to tame and reclaim the island.
Meanwhile, Beijing has also been on a spree of building or inaugurating aircraft carriers, missiles, corvettes, destroyers, amphibious battleships and stealth fighters, fueling further speculation over whether Taiwan stands a chance when Xi, armed with the will of the rank and file, is girding for a new Chinese civil war.
While many observers believe Xi is readying the military and the nation for a showdown, a bid that will decide how he will go down in history, veteran military commentator Andrei Chang noted in the Kanwa Defense Review that the PLA’s big guns and ships may be for show to make Washington and Tokyo think twice before stepping in, and a trigger doesn’t have to be pulled now that Xi has a slew of non-military options at his disposal.
The Hong Kong-based current-affairs monthly SuperMedia also reported that among the many diplomatic and economic means to subjugate the island is issuing Taiwan Special Administrative Region passports and granting hukou (Chinese household registration) and permanent residency to the 2 million Taiwanese already residing in mainland China.
Previous reports also suggest that the PLA’s first overseas base, which sits right on the Horn of Africa in Djibouti, is aimed at Taiwan, since the resource-scarce island relies substantially on the narrow waterway linking the Suez Canal and the Arabian Sea for oil imports from the Middle East as well as trade with Europe. From the Djibouti base PLA troops could intercept tankers ferrying oil to Taiwan and seal off the island’s trade artery in no time.
Beijing’s frenzied investment and acquisitions targeting stakes in mines, oilfields and energy firms in the Belt and Road countries could also jeopardize Taiwan’s economic security should Beijing decree an embargo of crude oil and other natural resources, according to Chang.
The raft of economic, trade, financial and logistical measures short of a shooting war to contain Taiwan won’t provide an opening for Washington to weight in, yet given time, they could work to coerce Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen into coming to terms with Xi and accepting whatever he has in store for a treaty to create a future Taiwan Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.
Taiwan , Hong Kong , Macau are the part of Chinese internal matters, China is capable of solving their problems . Let India solve its internal matter of Jammu and Kashmir. This
And hope india China ties improve .. Asis bas no prosperity with her two largest members at odds
Yes, I think so.
Of cause "Xi aims to take Taiwan without pulling a trigger", but the contents in this article is very weak, even ridiculous.
The most stupid part being "Previous reports also suggest that the PLA’s first overseas base, which sits right on the Horn of Africa in Djibouti, is aimed at Taiwan, since the resource-scarce island relies substantially on the narrow waterway linking the Suez Canal and the Arabian Sea for oil imports from the Middle East".
This sort of talk come straight from brain-dead Taiwan TV talk shows in which talking heads talk endlessly about any and every subject as if they are experts. Most of Middle East oil production are around the Persian Gulf and do not pass through the Suez Canal and the Arabian Sea at all.
Kashmir is Pakistan’s internal problem. Pakistan is capable of solving their problems. India should keep it’s nose out of Pakistan’s internal affairs.
If you think I’m ignorant then you should also review your own statement.
The article also fails to note that Djibouti also hosts a Japanese and a United States military installation. What does this author/ China think would be their response if they tried to pinch the Suez closed….???hmmmm??
For that matter, why do you think those bases are there in the first place? Any economic tactic like the ones this author suggests also inevitable threatens Japan as well. Good luck keeping them out of the equation.
This author wants to belive China is the only one playing chess here.
Taiwan is not any internal matter of Chinas. Taiwan is a sovereign nation and the Chicoms are a bunch of thugs!
Look, the author mentioned that the "People’s Liberation Army have in place a host of all-encompassing combat plans of tactics and deployment to suit all war scenarios". He just choose to highlight the least plausible.
Taiwan is a self-governing sovereign nation and therefore NOT a Chinese internal matter, no matter how much Beijing insists that it is. Fact is the two have been split for over half a century.
Atimes is the mouth piece of Communist China and an expert in Fake News.
China aims to restore its former Imperial glory, and cares nothing about popular opinion or desires. When they decide they can move, they will move.
There was no such American general. And for some nations, the Russians did come, with terrible consequences.
No, just that China is willing to play rough.
Lee Choon Hoe David
Re Sino indian tie:
Well… they wanted to save their humiliated face of ’62 using the American card while the Americans played them for a cannon fodder against us Chinese with the promise of American assistance with their plutonium enrichment processes and assistance in attaining their Beijing in range Acne 3, 4, and 5’s, a commitment made by Bush in ’04…
Then they better prepare themselves to face a barrage of some 2000 nuclear tipped IRBM and MRBM as well as SLBM, and LACM all along the Himalayas and in subs and surface vessels right across the Indian Ocean.
https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-china-security/chinese-military-paper-urges-increase-in-nuclear-deterrence-capabilities-idUKKBN1FJ1AI
Again, 2000 for our western flank: 1500 to keep the Russian bear at bay, 1500 to make Uncle Sam think and think hard, and, 1500 to keep the secondary two bit nukies like UK France and DPRK on notice…
End of Indian story….
.
Pat Patterson
Re Taiwan sovereign:
If that make you feel better? By all means believe what you will.
It’s important that you feel good about yourself.
🙂
Don’t dreaming,Taiwan is not Hongkong or Macau,nor tibet or shinjang just like cutter farm of chicken ????..Whatever you to do.
India treat j&m,china treat tibet and shinjang completes different.
Pat Patterson BY THE DOES YOUR GOVERNMENT ENDORSE ONE CHINA POLICY OR NOT?
Been in Taiwan for 30 years. Haven’t had any contact with the PROC. Internal affair? No government from the PROC has ever ruled here or had historical claims.
India should take Taiwan on board and have strategic links with them with more defence co operation just as chinks are doing with pakis having links with Taiwan will make the chinks mad
I can think of very few countries in history that has achieved independence without bloodshed. The problem for Taiwan is that very few of the 23 million people on the island have the stomach, capability or intellect for protract war with a greater power.
Taiwan will end up being absorbed into the Chinese diaspora. Just a matter of time.
Mon Mah Wow – you must have an excellet VPN. Or perhaps… you don’t need one…. I suspect the latter.
Taiwan must bring into consideration that the US, as a nation itself not a free nation and its monetary system made her own people slaves, before going against the hope of the Chinese people. One China policy must be honoured and executed through a peaceful and respectful negotiation, never even contemplate for going to go for war option.
Pat Patterson, still, its none of your business.
Pat Patterson
You must be dreaming,pls read some histry bro because you are way out in history.
The US is hell bent on preventing China in gaining unimpeded access to the Pacific. It will be difficult for the Americans to monitor Chinese nuclear subs if it happens. Taiwan will be ideal for a submarine base.
This article is rubbish. Not going to happen. Totally discounts American long standing commitment to Taiwan.
This is a foolish comment article about the issue of two countries across the Taiwan Strait. Not only naive, but also dumb! Taiwan is a free and demoractic country. If the Chinese regime boycott the oil supply for Taiwan, US, EU and Japan will exert their oil tankers to supply oil to Taiwan likewise. Does Chinese army dare to detain their oil
tankers in the public sea? Furthermore, the so-called 2 milliom Taiwanese are just making a living in China for money. Can you assure that these 2 million Taiwanese don’t leave for Southeast Asia for pursuing lower cost of producing? What a stupid journalist!
Well, from the outside it sounds like an anti-commie vent, but for the 23 million citizens of Taiwan, it’s a very real, very scary thing. They’ve worked hard to build their way of life, and fewer and fewer people here want to give that up.
Nan Zhang When people are abused – it is EVERYONE’S business.
Xi’s platitudes would look even more empty if he started a war and lost it. Taiwan might be part of China, but it is 180 kilometres from the mainland, more than five times the width of the English Channel. Any expedition from the People’s Republic to Taiwan would be an overseas invasion, more like the invasion of Sicily than the D-Day landing. An amphibious landing is the most difficult of all military operations. It’s not an undertaking for a country with little to no experience in amphibious warfare.