China's Deadly Tour of Taiwan, Okinawa, and Guam
Chinese Recklessness and the Approaching World War
While the news is paying very little attention to this story, China has been taking its new aircraft carrier on a tour of the Pacific: First “stop” Taiwan, second “stop” Okinawa, and the third “stop” Guam. Indeed, the activities of the carrier—which included 260 aircraft launches—forced Japan to scramble warships in response.
Why provoke Japan? Because Japan dared to ufp its military spending to the NATO standard of 2.5% (We understand Japan is not part of NATO but simply reference the number to demonstrate this amount of spending is not abnormal; it is utterly absurd to treat Japan’s decision to spend a normal amount on its national defense as if it were some sort of preparation for war).
And why cross into Guam’s territorial waters? Because the US dared to provide Taiwan, a nation whose independence is a demonstrable fact, the weapons it would need to defend itself for a few weeks while the US organized a response: Again, no one is actually threatening China.
Perhaps someone who sides with China could, with their twisted logic, defend sabre rattling at the US. But what exactly has Japan done to merit such treatment? Even though Okinawa houses US bases, provocations against Japan seem to be completely unwarranted.
It does provide an insight into the twisted mindset of Beijing, however. I imagine they think they can intimidate Japan into severing its ties to the US; the opposite is more likely though.
This entire situation with Taiwan is the predictable by-product of China’s decision to crack down on Hong Kong. If Xi had any political sense, he should have allowed Hong Kong to operate independently under the “two systems, one country” model until after it had negotiated reunification with Taiwan. Now that it has demonstrated its complete inability to keep its promises, it is quite natural that no peaceful reunification can ever be achieved. Were the communist authorities too stupid to realize that their actions towards Hong Kong would affect their ability to negotiate a reunification with Taiwan? Or did they actually relish the opportunity to go to war?
One thing is certain: Like Putin, China does not seem to be as rational an actor as we might have previously believed. If the authorities failed to see how cracking down on Hong Kong would make Taiwan tighten its defences, might they also fail to anticipate the US’s military response: I fear that, like Japan, they may miscalculate and attack the US believing we are a weak country that would quickly give up in the face of adversity.
We are not: China doubts this at its peril.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/china-sails-warships-near-guam-in-warning-to-u-s-over-taiwan/ar-AA15MyP9?
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/china-just-sailed-an-aircraft-carrier-near-one-of-america-s-biggest-pacific-bases/ar-AA15Oufu?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=389da52d4a1540acb0c056b748971f34