Could Trump compromise support for Taipei in return for China's help with the Iran war?

President Donald Trump is in Beijing for a high-stakes summit with President Xi Jinping. Flanked by a retinue of American CEOs and tech titans, Trump is hunting for headline-grabbing deals. But the escalating war with Iran is casting a shadow over the talks. Fears are growing that Trump — desperate for a Middle East peace deal - may be willing to compromise on US support for Taiwan, which China considers part of its own territory.

 

Chinese official threatens to behead Japanese PM over Taiwan row | DW News

China has berated Japan after its leader appeared to suggest Japan might get involved if China launched an invasion of Taiwan. The dispute started last Friday when Japan's new Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, said that if China invaded the self-governing island, it could be a quote survival-threatening situation for Japan. In such circumstances, Japan could activate its forces in self-defence. China's foreign ministry described the remarks as egregious. The two have been locked in a heated argument since then. Takaichi has refused to withdraw her comments but said she would be more careful in the future.

It's not just Taiwan that China claims as its own. They also claim to own 90% of the South China Sea though 9 Dash Line map the government released in November of 2009. The sea is bordered by nine other countries which include parts of those countries territories.

The Taiwanese civilians training for a Chinese invasion

Kuo Chiu, known as KC to his friends, teaches urban design at Tunghai University in Taiwan. He’s also one of many of the country's citizens who practises rifle skills in his spare time, in case of a Chinese invasion.

The population of Taiwan has long grown familiar with Beijing’s pledge to one day ‘unify’ what it claims is a breakaway province. But recently, there has been a significant increase in aggressive and intimidatory acts.

Taiwan’s 160,000 active military personnel are vastly outnumbered by China’s 2 million-member armed forces, leading many civilians to turn to voluntary medical and combat training to protect themselves.

What do China's latest military drills around Taiwan mean for the region

7.4 Earthquake Hits Taiwan - LIVE Breaking News Coverage (with Tsunami Warning Updates)

China seas: A new Cold War brewing? •

Long dominated by the United States, the Asia-Pacific region is grappling with an increasingly assertive China. Tensions are mounting around Taiwan and in the South China Sea, both in the air and on the water, with numerous incidents of late involving Chinese fighter planes, collisions between ships and reefs being turned into military outposts

Minority in parliament and China's threats: The challenges of Taiwan's new government

In Taiwan the ruling party candidate Lai Ching-te has won the presidential election giving his party, the DPP, an unprecedented third term. Lai secured just over 40 percent of the vote, ahead of his nearest rival in the opposition KMT. China claims Taiwan as its territory and in the run-up to the election called Lai a "dangerous separatist". The US, Germany and France are among the countries who have congratulated Taiwan on its successful election.

Resurfaced videos pretend to show Chinese tanks deployed near Taiwan last week

Two videos are circulating since September 6, where users claim to show the 'deployment of Chinese armored vehicles in provinces near to Taiwan.' Both videos were traced back to August 2, 2022, when Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan. We explain in this edition of Truth or Fake

What do you know about Taiwan?

Taiwan is a place of incredible variety. The tiny island’s natural beauty is a concentration of some of Asia’s most spectacular features. To the east, there are sheer cliffs with mountain peaks, plateaus and hot springs. To the south, you’ll find sandy beaches, coral reefs and lagoons.

China simulates mass missile strikes on Taiwan in show of strength - BBC News

 

China has carried out mass simulated missile strikes on Taiwan, in military exercises that included “sealing off” the island. Taiwan considers itself a sovereign state. China sees it as a breakaway province that will eventually be brought under Beijing's control - by force, if necessary. Beijing began the exercises after Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen met the US House Speaker in California, which China described as an act of “collusion” by the United States.

Where does Taiwan’s future lie in the US-China tug-of-war?

 Chinese military simulates strikes on Taiwan in response to its president’s visit to the US.

The waters and airspace around Taiwan are once again the setting for military muscle-flexing, in a stand-off between China and the United States-backed island.

Chinese military rehearse encirclement of Taiwan

China's military has begun rehearsing the encirclement of Taiwan during three days of military drills. Beijing - which views Taiwan as a breakaway province of China - called the operation a "stern warning" to the island's government. The exercises began hours after President Tsai Ing-wen returned from a trip to the United States. The Taiwanese Defence Ministry said 42 Chinese military planes and eight ships crossed the Taiwan Strait median line.

The Taiwanese satirists poking fun at China

 Taiwan’s unique political status has proven difficult for politicians to navigate, and for journalists to cover but for Taiwanese comedians, the absurd reality provides comedy gold.

Satire has proven a useful tool to educate audiences about a geopolitical stalemate many people - including Taiwanese - lost interest in - and checked out of - a long time ago.

Could China and the US be headed for an all-out confrontation?

If China’s freshly appointed foreign minister Qin Gang is to be believed, the answer is: yes - China and the US could be headed for an all-out confrontation. At his first press conference in the post, he slammed Washington's approach of "competition without conflict" and warned that the current dynamic threatened global peace. Speaking on the sidelines of the National People's Congress - China's rubber stamp parliament - Qin defied those expecting a more reconciliatory tone after the recent spy balloon incident and blamed the US for the war in Ukraine and rising tensions over Taiwan.

Taiwan, US to 'bolster military exchanges' amid tensions with China

 Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-Wen has said Taipei will boost 'military exchanges' with the United States, at a time when tensions with Beijing remain high.

The cooperation with the US has picked up pace especially since the start of the Ukraine War and renewed concerns over the threat of an invasion from China.

Taiwan - Democracy and the digital world

 

For Taiwanese Minister of Digital Affairs Audrey Tang, democracy is itself a technology. This film shines a light on Taiwan’s political history, as well as the country’s contemporary experience of democracy.

Taiwan: Why the US & China are on collision course for war | DW News

 

"The Chinese seem to be preparing for a war against Taiwan" says Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu. This puts the US and China on collision course for war – with potentially dramatic stakes for the world. China's President Xi Jinping has vowed that Beijing will "reunify" with the island – if necessary, by force. A large majority of people in Taiwan say they don't want reunification. The United States is increasingly clear that it would intervene to defend Taiwan from any attack.

Over 70 Chinese warplanes cross Taiwan median in biggest incursion so far

More than 70 Chinese military aircraft have entered Taiwanese airspace over the last 24 hours, the island's government says. This is the largest incursion to date by China, which claims sovereignty over the self-governing territory.

Why China will be watching Taiwan elections closely

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has stood firm against increasing Chinese aggression, but that stance faces a test in Saturday's local elections. The vote is seen as a referendum on her leadership and that of her ruling Democratic Progressive Party ahead of national polls in early 2024.

Can Taiwan's microchips act as a 'silicon shield' against a Chinese invasion? - BBC Newsnight

 

Taiwan dominates global production of the microchips which are within almost every technological device we use. A disruption to these supply chains would cause incredible damage to China and the world, a fact which protects the island nation to some degree from a military attack.