…And In Regard to China: Are These Those Interesting Times?
China sends warplanes to harass Taiwan – again. The Chinese government is not only hassling Taiwan by refusing to recognize Taiwanese autonomy, but is also poking and pinching its other neighbors, e.g., the island nation of Palau and then there’s also that border dispute China has with India.
From the article: Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said China on Saturday sent eight bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons and four fighter jets into airspace just southwest of the island, part of a long-standing pattern of Chinese incursions aimed at pressuring the government of President Tsai Ing-wen into caving to Beijing’s demand that she recognize Taiwan as a part of Chinese territory.
The latest Chinese overflight came on the heels of President Joe Biden’s inauguration, emphasizing the island’s enduring position in the panoply of divisive issues between the sides that also include human rights, trade disputes and, most recently, questions about China’s initial response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Biden’s administration has shown little sign of reducing pressure on China over such issues, although it is seen as favoring a return to more civil dialogue. In another sign of support for Taiwan, the island’s de-facto ambassador to Washington, Hsiao Bi-khim, was an invited guest at Biden’s inauguration.
And in a final swipe at China, the Trump administration’s outgoing U.N. ambassador tweeted that it’s time for the world to oppose China’s efforts to exclude and isolate Taiwan, drawing sharp criticism from Beijing. – article
With Beijing putting pressure on Taiwan, and the USA supporting the Taiwanese government, was the US government premature in giving up our bases in the Philippines? I kmow: that’s southeast Asia, but the Philippines do have an oceanic reserve area in the South China Sea and China has been building artificial islands for air bases not too far away from that preserve, as shown on the Wapo map above. Some of those artificial islands are starting to sink, too. It’s almost as though China is ponying up for some sort of conflict, which drags up that eternal question: Can’t we all just get along?
Here’s some relevant information from last September (2020), regarding that very question.
From the 09/2020 article: The small oceanic country of Palau has called on the US military to build military bases in its territory, an archipelago about 1500 kilometers west of the Philippines. Notably, the United States has been in an aggressive posture in this region to counter the growing Chinese influence in the region.
As part of a Pacific tour, the U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper visited the island nation last week and accused Beijing of a “malign influence” and “ongoing destabilizing activities” across the region.
Palau is one of the only few countries (17), which has refused to give up diplomatic relations with Taiwan and side with China. The little independent nation- not bigger than ‘a dot on the map’, as it’s said, has become the focus of geopolitical changes in the region.
The President of Palau later revealed that he had handed over an official letter himself to the U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper on his recent visit, urging the US to commit to military infrastructure on its islands.
“Palau’s request to the US military remains simple – build joint-use facilities, then come and use them regularly,” the letter said.
According to the sources, the letter was marked “by hand delivery, Kror, Palau”, addressed to Esper and mentioned the island nation’s eagerness to host land bases, port facilities and airfields for the U.S. military. – article
Considering everything, should the US government be making it clear to the Chinese government that its aggressive stance toward its neighbors is not only unwelcome, but inappropriate bullying?
The squabbles will continue until or unless China decides to back down a bit. It will be interesting to watch while this unfolds.
Category: 2020 Election, China, Foreign Policy
I hope they get pressure like an overfilled bladder, from the International community.
Most likely china is doing this to test the Fuhrer biden to see what his response will be, either doing something or punking out.
He’ll punk out and bow down to Beijing 10 times out of 10.
Am I missing something? I believe Palau is considerably EAST of the Philippines and NOT in the South China Sea. I can understand any country in the Western Pacific to be concerned about the obvious Chinese aggression, however.
When Hollywood producers moved Krakatoa to East of Java, they relocated Palau to the West to assuage any fears of Congressman Hank Johnson that all of the water in the Pacific would on one side of the ocean.
No, you aren’t missing anything. Palau is not in the South China Sea, as you said, but China has taken to harrassing that island nation, regardless. There is more like that going on in the Pacific, but I wanted to keep it short.
Got it..thanks for keeping on top of this.
Didn’t one of the technothriller wonks like Dale Brown kick off war in the region over the Spratlies?
Ghost Fleet, by P.W. Singer
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LZ7GOI4
It’s be Lebensraum next month with the PRC.
Biden and his folks are too consumed with identity politics right now to worry about the international stage. When they do get around to paying attention to the outside world they are likely to revert us back to the United States of Appeasement a’la Obama.
Off topic.
Ex-PH2, what do you think of that carbon capture technology the left claims will one day will “solve climate change “?
My concern is they might use this to lower the percentage of CO2 in the atmosphere and make the weather colder and more hostile to life.
My reaction precisely, Joe. They are really dumber than two left shoes on your feet. And there are small signs that things are going to get colder, no matter what they do. It’s all a scam, by money-grubbing persons and not much else.
China will attack Taiwan, eventually if not sooner. Whether or not Sniff or Blow do anything when the Chinese Communists DO ATTACK, remains to be seen. Communist China is NOT our friend, they still have designs on world domination and everything they do is designed to poke at us just a little more.
He’s deep in their pocket. He won’t do anything about West Taiwan trying to take over the last of the Chinese. In before Lars tries to fluff his paycheck further.
This is a simple probe to test the waters with US support in the area by Harris and Company.
I imagine Harris will now use this to put pressure on the Philippines to stop their wildly popular and successful campaign to end the drug trade there as well as other idiocy.
How much you want to bet that hunter biden is putting up a for sale sign on Taiwan right now? I think he is also opening up a new chinese restaurant franchise as well.