Is A Chinese Invasion of Taiwan Imminent?

It seems as though China could be preparing to invade Taiwan just before former President Donald Trump enters the White House.

If they invade before he gets there, they have a stronger chance of keeping Taiwan, maybe?

We don’t really know what’s going to happen, of course, but major drills being conducted in the area could mean we have Biden in charge of another major international incident. And that never ends well.

At a glance:

  • China held significant military drills around Taiwan, aimed as a warning to Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te to halt “separatist acts.”
  • The drills involved Chinese army, navy, air, and rocket forces, simulating a potential blockade of Taiwan.
  • Taiwan’s Defense Ministry condemned the actions, and President Lai affirmed his determination to maintain peace and stability.

China’s military conducted extensive drills around Taiwan on Monday, signaling a sharp warning to President Lai Ching-te and his administration against any moves toward Taiwan’s independence. The exercises, which included army, navy, air, and rocket forces, were part of China’s continued pressure campaign on Taiwan since Lai’s inauguration. These drills, dubbed “Joint Sword-2024B,” followed earlier exercises held after Lai took office in May.

A map from China Central Television indicated the drills occurred in six large zones surrounding Taiwan, resembling previous military exercises simulating a blockade of the island. These actions come after Lai’s firm stance during Taiwan’s National Day celebrations, where he declared his intention to confront China’s threats.

Beijing views Taiwan as part of its territory and has employed numerous strategies to isolate the island, including diplomatic maneuvers and increased Coast Guard activity. Taiwan, in turn, criticized China for using trade as a political weapon following Beijing’s threat of further measures over certain banned Chinese shipments.

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry responded by deploying its forces, while reiterating its commitment to peace in the region. The U.S. has continued to support Taiwan with arms sales, and President Joe Biden has stated on multiple occasions that the U.S. would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack, although he has also reiterated that he does not endorse Taiwan’s independence—a critical issue for Beijing.