The Chinese leader's message in San Francisco got the attention of U.S. officials because it was delivered at a meeting that was intended to reduce tensions.
How is Taiwan crucial for China? Locality? There’s nothing there of value aside from subjugation and a raw land grab.
The terrain makes it fairly defensible on the west coast. The economy would tank. Businesses of real value would implode.
The people don’t want to be “reunified” and will not tow the line so easily. China has never had to endure longterm modern asymmetrical warfare.
I just don’t see how it would benefit them vs the cost in the short and near term. If they could pull it off over 50 years then maybe but I don’t think it would play out that way.
Taiwan has a big political significance for China; taking it over would mean putting an end to Kuomintang and concluding the war, emerging victorious. No more little neighbor undermining credibility of the Party.
Aside from that, Taiwan is home to the most advanced chipmaking factory in the world, and US has made sure mainland China is cut off from advanced computing technologies, forcing it to lag behind in some of the most important modern industries, as well as military. By capturing Taiwan, China could greatly change the balance of power - either by successfully overtaking TSMC, or by destroying it. Both will work, really.
Yeah but TSMC isn’t gonna just walk away and let China have it… They’re gonna sabotage all of it and leave them with nothing… and if they don’t do it themselves, the US will make it so…
How is Taiwan crucial for China? Locality? There’s nothing there of value aside from subjugation and a raw land grab.
The terrain makes it fairly defensible on the west coast. The economy would tank. Businesses of real value would implode.
The people don’t want to be “reunified” and will not tow the line so easily. China has never had to endure longterm modern asymmetrical warfare.
I just don’t see how it would benefit them vs the cost in the short and near term. If they could pull it off over 50 years then maybe but I don’t think it would play out that way.
Taiwan has a big political significance for China; taking it over would mean putting an end to Kuomintang and concluding the war, emerging victorious. No more little neighbor undermining credibility of the Party.
Aside from that, Taiwan is home to the most advanced chipmaking factory in the world, and US has made sure mainland China is cut off from advanced computing technologies, forcing it to lag behind in some of the most important modern industries, as well as military. By capturing Taiwan, China could greatly change the balance of power - either by successfully overtaking TSMC, or by destroying it. Both will work, really.
Yeah but TSMC isn’t gonna just walk away and let China have it… They’re gonna sabotage all of it and leave them with nothing… and if they don’t do it themselves, the US will make it so…