Garfinkle’s contention that the PRC will not “mess” with Taiwan by force is naïve. China has built an anti-access / area denial military capability which precludes the decisive use of the 7th Fleet in such a conflict without the likelihood of losses which would be unpalatable to American voters. Xi’s sense of his place in history and his views of China’s destiny are a departure from previous CCP leaders, and indicative of a more aggressive stance in regard to territorial expansion and regional hegemony. Several of Xi’s utterances this year as well as PLAN and PLA exercise deployments make an envelopment of Taiwan during a weaker than usual US Presidential transition period overseen by an outgoing administration of unprecedented incompetence more probable than has been the case previously.
Norman's right! Xi and the CCP are more overtly aggressive day by day.
What if the Chinese invade Taiwan? What would the USA do?
I hate to think of the answer.
The War That Ended Peace by Margret MacMillan shows pitiful decisions can scorch the globe in this case!
Garfinkle’s contention that the PRC will not “mess” with Taiwan by force is naïve. China has built an anti-access / area denial military capability which precludes the decisive use of the 7th Fleet in such a conflict without the likelihood of losses which would be unpalatable to American voters. Xi’s sense of his place in history and his views of China’s destiny are a departure from previous CCP leaders, and indicative of a more aggressive stance in regard to territorial expansion and regional hegemony. Several of Xi’s utterances this year as well as PLAN and PLA exercise deployments make an envelopment of Taiwan during a weaker than usual US Presidential transition period overseen by an outgoing administration of unprecedented incompetence more probable than has been the case previously.