#THREAD: 1/ What the #US should do about #Taiwan
No one can doubt that #China is very close to attacking Taiwan.
Words from Washington are not enough as #Chinese warplanes step up their provocative incursions into Taiwan's airspace.
A great read!
asiatimes.com/2021/10/what-t…
No one can doubt that #China is very close to attacking Taiwan.
Words from Washington are not enough as #Chinese warplanes step up their provocative incursions into Taiwan's airspace.
A great read!
asiatimes.com/2021/10/what-t…
2/ Taiwan so far has exercised restraint, putting its F-16s and other aircraft into the sky to challenge Chinese incursions into its air defense zone (ADIZ) but not firing on the intruding aircraft. But if a mistake happens, it will end up a bloody mess.
3/ The US State Department had issued a strong statement condemning China’s violations of Taiwan’s ADIZ even before China responded by sending in 52 planes on Monday. It appears that China does not take Washington seriously and doesn’t care at all what the State Department says.
4/ Is Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman General Mark Milley calling his counterparts in China & telling them not to worry? It's a fair question, but he probably hasn’t. On the other hand, the Pentagon is far from ready to take on China and won’t push the White House to do anything.
5/ If Taiwan were to fall to China without US intervention, Biden’s presidency, already tottering, would likely collapse. Biden would have to resign & Harris would become president, unless she is also forced to step aside. No one has any idea of what would happen in such case.
6/ If the US demanded the participation of our allies, especially Japan & used Japanese bases with the support of Japanese fighter planes, the scenario changes. It changes even more if Taiwan can operate from bases on Okinawa & Japan’s islands, especially those closest to Taiwan.
7/ Faced with multiple bases & F-35s, F-15s & F-16s to counter an attack on Taiwan, the Chinese would have more on their hands than they can handle. US can fly in F-22 Raptor stealth fighers & create a big dilemma for China since they would take out Chinese air defenses & HQs.
8/ if China thinks its intimidation tactics will get the US to force Taiwan into giving up its independence, perhaps with Biden’s help, they are likely miscalculating since the president cannot afford to pay that political price after the debacle of Afghanistan.
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