Taiwan in the Crosshairs - A special report from The Washington Times
Long a source of contention between China and the U.S., the vibrant island democracy of Taiwan finds itself once more in the geopolitical crosshairs as Beijing has stepped up its diplomatic and military intimidation campaign in recent months.
In a three-part series, Washington Times National Security Team Leader Guy Taylor traveled to Taiwan to examine how the island and its nearly 24 million people are holding up under the pressure.
The series of exclusive articles will look at how Taiwanese, especially the young, are reacting to China's intimidation campaign, how Taiwan's world-class semiconductor chip industry plays into the crisis, and how the diplomatic understandings of the 'one-China policy' are facing unprecedented strains on both sides of the Pacific.
PART ONE
Ukraine drama has young Taiwanese rethinking the threat from China
The national soul-searching has intensified since August, when China dramatically expanded the scope of its military drills and missile tests near Taiwan following House Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the island, an expansion of aggression many here read as a sign that Beijing is practicing to invade.
Fears that China‘s autocratic government will turn to military force have seemed all the more rational against a backdrop of violent imagery from Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine that has saturated Taiwan‘s media for the past eight months.
Read more HERE.
PART TWO
Taiwan’s microchip dominance is Ground Zero in growing U.S.-China Cold War
As China’s threat to absorb Taiwan and force it under the control of the Chinese Communist Party intensifies, Taiwanese officials cite the chip manufacturing sector as the linchpin of the island democracy’s strategic relevance — a major piece of the argument over why should Americans care about the fate of what might otherwise seem like a far-off geopolitical fight for Washington to avoid.
Taiwan’s location, halfway down China’s 9,000-mile coastline and directly between the East and South China Seas is also seen as vital, as Chinese military control over the island could one day hand Beijing naval dominance over the massive flow of goods shipped through those seas to the world.
Read more HERE.
PART THREE
China’s threat to Taiwan sparks debate over U.S. ‘One China’ policy
China‘s threat to absorb Taiwan — through possible military action if necessary — has sent nerves soaring in this city, while also sparking debate a half a world away in Washington over the long-held U.S. policy of “strategic ambiguity” over just exactly what the American military would do to protect the island democracy from a Chinese invasion.
With President Biden responding to increased Chinese military drills near Taiwan by saying U.S. forces will defend the island in the event of an “unprecedented attack,” some argue the era of strategic ambiguity is already over.
Read more HERE.
