China - Taiwan Developments

yeah just like those Iraq WMDs will be found any day now ...

Oh dear:

Saddam quickly realized he had under-estimated the resolve of the UN. At this point, in the summer of 1991, he took a disastrous decision – to unilaterally destroy the remaining chemical weapons and ballistic missiles and all of his biological weapons. Anxious to destroy evidence that this undeclared weaponry had ever existed, the regime also destroyed vast amounts of paperwork. Iraqi Presidential Advisor Amir Hamudi Hasan Al Sa’adi later told the Americans this decision was as catastrophic in its consequences for Iraq as the invasion of Kuwait.

The unilateral destruction took place, in secret, between July and December 1991. Pain staking, on the ground investigations by UN inspectors soon revealed to them that Iraq had possessed far more weapons than it had declared. Under pressure, on March 17th 1992 the Iraqis came clean about the unilateral destruction of its remaining chemical weapons and ballistic missiles. But how to prove it? They took inspectors to desert locations where the destruction had taken place.



In violation of the Geneva Protocol of 1925, the Iraqi Army initiated two failed (1970-1974, 1974-1978) and one successful (1978-1991) offensive chemical weapons (CW) programs. President Saddam Hussein (1937-2006) pursued the most extensive chemical program during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), when he waged chemical warfare against his foe. He also used chemicals in 1988 in the Al ...


Saddam Hussein (1937-2006) began an extensive biological weapons (BW) program in Iraq in the early 1980s, despite having signed (but not ratified until 1991) the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) of 1972. Details of the BW program and a chemical weapons program surfaced after the Gulf War (1990-91) during the disarmament of Iraq under the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM).

 
Japan is strengthening her defense and those of her allies:

[Provisional Translation as of March 14, 2023 ]
4
I. Program Guidelines
In accordance with the “National Defense Strategy” (approved by the
National Security Council and Cabinet on December, 16, 2022), Japan will
fundamentally reinforce its “Multi-Domain Defense Force,” through the
synergy of organically integrated capabilities in cluding space, cyber, and
electromagnetic domains, and is capable of sustained conduct of flexible
and strategic activities during all phases from peacetime to armed
contingencies, focusing on the capabilities of our opponents and new ways
of warfare. By FY 2027 or by five years from now, Japan will strengthen its
defense capabilities to the point at which Japan is able to take the primary
responsibility for dealing with invasions against its nation, and disrupt and
defeat such threats while gaining support of its ally and others. Furthermore,
in approximately 10 years from now, Japan will make further efforts to
better attain this defense objective and will reinforce its defense capabilities
to the point at which it will be possible to disrupt and defeat invasions
against its nation much earlier and at a further distance

More here:

 
Japan is strengthening her defense and those of her allies:

[Provisional Translation as of March 14, 2023 ]
4
I. Program Guidelines
In accordance with the “National Defense Strategy” (approved by the
National Security Council and Cabinet on December, 16, 2022), Japan will
fundamentally reinforce its “Multi-Domain Defense Force,” through the
synergy of organically integrated capabilities in cluding space, cyber, and
electromagnetic domains, and is capable of sustained conduct of flexible
and strategic activities during all phases from peacetime to armed
contingencies, focusing on the capabilities of our opponents and new ways
of warfare. By FY 2027 or by five years from now, Japan will strengthen its
defense capabilities to the point at which Japan is able to take the primary
responsibility for dealing with invasions against its nation, and disrupt and
defeat such threats while gaining support of its ally and others. Furthermore,
in approximately 10 years from now, Japan will make further efforts to
better attain this defense objective and will reinforce its defense capabilities
to the point at which it will be possible to disrupt and defeat invasions
against its nation much earlier and at a further distance

More here:


This should please the Chinese no end.
 
This should please the Chinese no end.

Japan has the second most powerful blue water navy after the States. Making it more powerful and in 10 years time being able to disrupt China in their own backyard (Chinese), as is suggested in their MOD paper will pee the Chinese and Russians even more.
 

Opinion : Blow up the microchips? What a Taiwan spat says about U.S. strategy.​


in Los Angeles, Moulton said: “One of the interesting ideas that’s been floated out there for deterrence is just making it very clear to the Chinese that if you invade Taiwan, we’re going to blow up TSMC.” He continued: “I just throw that out not because that’s necessarily the best strategy, but because it’s an example of the debate that’s out there. And of course, the Taiwanese really don’t like this idea.”

 
I think France doing a good thing by staying neutral.

I don't see China invading soon but if they do, it's going to be a very big test for the USA and if they stuff up, it's doing to have disastrous consequences. If China (hypothethically) annexes it and outsmarts the USA, it won't be in the best interests of South Korea and Japan to continue sucking up to the Mericans. They may have to tell them to back off if not kick them out of the region.
 
I think France doing a good thing by staying neutral.

I don't see China invading soon but if they do, it's going to be a very big test for the USA and if they stuff up, it's doing to have disastrous consequences. If China (hypothethically) annexes it and outsmarts the USA, it won't be in the best interests of South Korea and Japan to continue sucking up to the Mericans. They may have to tell them to back off if not kick them out of the region.
France is a key member of NATO. Though Taiwan isn't directly under NATO's umbrella, the USA, a fellow NATO member, has a significant interest in Taiwan's security. If France remains neutral while a key ally is embroiled in a conflict, it could strain their relationship and weaken the alliance's overall cohesion.

The balance of power in Asia-Pacific is delicate. If countries like South Korea and Japan distance themselves from the US due to a perceived failure, it might lead to a power vacuum or a reshuffling of alliances in the region. This could have unpredictable and potentially adverse effects on global security.
 
Here on the ground you would never think that there was any tension. I'm spending the weekend on Lieyu island recovering from jetlag and it's within spitting distance of China. I could hear music wafting from the mainland earlier tonight and you can see the skyscrapers across the bay. Apparently quite a few mainlanders will be arriving tomorrow for a celebration for the sea goddess and I've been asked not do any drone flights, but that's about it. China seems more focused on Japan and the G7 summit.
 
The United States has announced $345m in military aid for Taiwan, ramping up support for the self-ruled island that is claimed by China.

The package will include “defence articles”, military education and training, US President Joe Biden’s administration said in a statement on Friday.

The White House announcement did not elaborate on the weapons or equipment that would be provided, but media outlets citing unnamed officials said the supplies would include portable air defence systems, small arms munitions and reconnaissance equipment.

 
The United States has announced $345m in military aid for Taiwan, ramping up support for the self-ruled island that is claimed by China.

The package will include “defence articles”, military education and training, US President Joe Biden’s administration said in a statement on Friday.

The White House announcement did not elaborate on the weapons or equipment that would be provided, but media outlets citing unnamed officials said the supplies would include portable air defence systems, small arms munitions and reconnaissance equipment.


USA playing double game on this one. On the one hand, they claim to want Taiwan to want "freedom". On the other, they dont recognize Taiwan as a nation. Actually heard from a Taiwanese-American friend yesterday that actually Eswatini is one of the few countries that recognize Taiwan officially and give it embassy status.

US isint as much concerned about Taiwan's people as it is its access to microchips from there. If China takes over Taiwan, it will be harder for the US to gain access and even nations like S. Korea and Japan may be forced to rethink alliances with US as it may be beneficial for them to open up to China more in that case.
 
Here on the ground you would never think that there was any tension. I'm spending the weekend on Lieyu island recovering from jetlag and it's within spitting distance of China. I could hear music wafting from the mainland earlier tonight and you can see the skyscrapers across the bay. Apparently quite a few mainlanders will be arriving tomorrow for a celebration for the sea goddess and I've been asked not do any drone flights, but that's about it. China seems more focused on Japan and the G7 summit.

China is a flawed place but Xi is a pragmatist. There are times when he is actually the more reasonable one than the West.
 
Come to think about it, the USA wont really want Asian unity (not that I see it happeninf but the tension works to their favour). If there was more unity, they kick out US and Western strategic interest points in the region.

The US needs war to go on to maintain its power as much as Russia does. That is the world we live in.
 
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