Xi Jinping told an EU leader that the US was trying to trick China into invading Taiwan, per the Financial Times, amid increasing tensions.
  • Xi Jinping accused the US of trying to trick China into invading Taiwan, the Financial Times said.
  • The Chinese leader made the claim to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, per the FT.
  • One expert told BI it’s a sign that China is “genuinely surprised” by the attitude of US officials.

…

For decades, the US has adopted “strategic ambiguity” toward Taiwan, positioning itself as the country’s most steadfast ally, while declining to explicitly say whether it would come to Taiwan’s aid if China attacked.

But the mood in Washington, DC, seems to be shifting, with Congress showing itself more “overtly supportive of Taiwan than only a few years ago,” Graeme Thompson, an analyst with the Eurasia Group, told Business Insider in November.

…

“The US has plenty of public figures now talking of Taiwan like it is a new Ukraine, and some even saying it needs to be diplomatically recognized,” Brown added.

  • SpaceCowboy@lemmy.caEnglish
    92·
    6 months ago

    He knows China doesn’t have the capability to invade Taiwan, but needs to save face. So… the evil foreigners are trying to trick us, but I’m too smart to fall for their tricks!

    Fascist propaganda 101, always blame the foreigners for everything.

    • Etterra@lemmy.worldEnglish
      0·
      6 months ago

      Well it has the capability of trying. It would end up costing them insanely more than it could possibly gain, but still.

      • SpaceCowboy@lemmy.caEnglish
        11·
        6 months ago

        Xi needs to keep people thinking he’s the strongman that’s protecting China from the evil foreigners. If he tries to invade Taiwan and fails (the most likely outcome) he appears weak and it’s over for him.

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.worldEnglish
      52·
      6 months ago

      He knows China doesn’t have the capability to invade Taiwan

      Large scale ground invasions are generally a losing game.

      But the Chinese strategy towards Taiwan has always been the same strategy as Hong Kong, Tibet, and Mongolia. Become economically invaluable and set policy through soft power.

      The only real incentive to send in ground troops would be to respond to a Cuba Missile style escalation. And it no longer looks like the Americans are interested in installing short range missiles on the island, now that they have exhausted themselves arming Ukraine.

      • SpaceCowboy@lemmy.caEnglish
        1·
        6 months ago

        Large scale ground invasions are generally a losing game.

        Large scale amphibious assaults even moreso. I feel like people keep forgetting Taiwan is an island. Sure China has a massive army and could throw a lot of waves of soldiers in a straight up ground campaign, but with Taiwan it wouldn’t be a straight up ground campaign.

        So yeah their strat would have to be based around economy and politics for the time being. Sure they’re improving their Navy, but it’s probably be at least a decade (if ever) they could have successful military action on Taiwan other than just sabre rattling.