Taiwan has long considered its island nation separate from mainland China, but the Chinese Communist Party have become dangerously close to tempting the United States into another war by circling the tiny nation-state with warships in recent weeks. Chinese President Xi Jinping has held that cooperation between the United States and China is a focal point of his administration and that China and the U.S. must seek common ground "rather than engage in vicious competition." However, recent maneuvering in the disputed South China Sea by the Chinese navy suggests otherwise.
During a visit in April by America's top diplomat Tony Blinken to Beijing, the U.S. Secretary of State stressed on Beijing that the Biden administration remains adamant that Xi and Biden manage their differences over a host of bilateral concerns, especially China's support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine in addition to Taiwan's sovereignty, human rights matters, and the production and distribution of fentanyl, which has been smuggled into the United States through Mexico and has appeared in large cities and rural town across the country. Blinken apparently drew a line across the conference table, stating after the meeting with President Xi ,"As we've told China for some time, ensuring transatlantic security is a core U.S. interest. I made it clear that if China does not address this problem, we will."
Yet, thirty days later, China launched two days of military drills described by China as "punishment" for what can be surmised as the election and inauguration of Taiwan's newly elected president Lai Ching-te, which the CCP condemns. China's People's Liberation Army has openly stated the reason for the drills in the Taiwan Strait - a narrow body of water separating Taiwan from mainland China - was to test its ability to "seize power" over Taiwan. Although the United States recognizes and acknowledges the People's Republic of China's position that Taiwan is part of China, Washington disagrees with Beijing's claim of sovereignty over the island.
President Xi has supported the Russian invasion of Ukraine which has taken place during the Biden Administration's tenure in the White House and is well aware Joe Biden and Tony Blinken are being strong-armed by Russian President Vadimir Putin. There is no doubt that Mr. Xi watched the Trump-Biden debate which took place in the hotly contested state of Georgia and realizes his time to act against Taiwan may be coming to a close soon, since it seems more likely Donald Trump will defeat Joe Biden in a general election for the US presidency. Timing is everything. Putin knows it, and so does Xi. Blinken's veiled threat in April of addressing security matters with Beijing is laughable given the Russian invasion of Ukraine resulted only in harsh words and sanctions. If history repeats itself after China invades Taiwan, Biden will likely increase tariffs on Chinese-made products imported into the U.S., then ask congress to pass appropriations bills far surpassing the $175 billion addressing the war in Ukraine, losing all chances of getting re-elected in November.
Alex Reinshagen
