Top Points:
China's Military Escalation Toward Taiwan: Gordon Chang emphasized that China's military drills and hostile rhetoric toward Taiwan have escalated, signaling that the CCP may be preparing for an imminent invasion.
Xi Jinping's Legacy and Desperation: Chang explained that Chinese President Xi Jinping has staked his personal legacy on the reunification of Taiwan with China, making the situation highly volatile as Xi may act out of desperation to secure his standing within the Communist Party.
State of Chinese Economy: Chang noted that the current state of China's economy and current public sentiment could keep war at bay but would not prevent it entirely.
Full Report:
Gordon Chang, a prominent expert on U.S.-China relations, sounded a serious warning on Newsmax about the growing potential for war between China and Taiwan. During his appearance, Chang outlined the increasing signs that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is preparing to invade Taiwan in the near future, a move that could have catastrophic consequences for the region and global stability.
Chang emphasized that China's aggressive military posturing and rhetoric toward Taiwan have escalated sharply in recent months, suggesting that an invasion could be imminent. The CCP views Taiwan as a breakaway province and has long stated its intention to reunify the island with the mainland, by force if necessary. What makes the current situation especially alarming, according to Chang, is the increased frequency of Chinese military drills in the Taiwan Strait, coupled with hostile remarks from Chinese leadership.
"China has always told Taiwan that it reserves the right to use force, and these drills, which have been going on for quite some time, have just sort of brought that point home," Chang explained.
Chang noted that due to it's precarious economic situation, China is not quite ready to fully enter a war. China’s domestic economy is facing severe challenges, including a looming debt crisis, which could push CCP President Xi Jinping to take more drastic measures to divert attention from these internal problems. Chang believes it's more likely, however, that Xi Jinping fears backlash from the Chinese people should the country enter a war while in a less-than-ideal economic state.
"Xi Jinping does not trust his military. The Chinese people don't want war right now, and they especially don't want a war on Taiwan, and China right now is casualty averse," observed Chang.
That still does not mean war is not on the horizon.
Chang concluded with a stark warning: "The people in Taiwan expect China to impose a quarantine around the island within six months, and a quarantine could very well lead to a war."
As tensions continue to rise in the Taiwan Strait, Chang's insights serve as a critical reminder of the potential dangers posed by China's increasingly aggressive stance toward Taiwan. The coming months will likely reveal whether diplomatic efforts can avert a devastating conflict, or if China will follow through on its threats of military action.
References:
Newsmax interview with Gordon Chang discussing the possibility of China going to war with Taiwan.
Chang’s analysis of the CCP’s military posturing and Xi Jinping’s nationalist vision.
U.S. military presence in the Indo-Pacific and its role in deterring Chinese aggression.