With starvation and economic woes on the horizon Xi needs a war. Unfortunately Taiwan could very well be too big a pill to swallow. China could eventually take Taiwan. But the cost would be huge. The military losses would make China very vulnerable to India. Never forget India. India can cut off China’s oil imports very easily. This would bring China’s military to a screeching halt.
India is a big deal, I have said it since GWB was in office.
“India can cut off China’s oil imports very easily.”
Even Gen. Milley can see that, and he’s an idiot. India’s perfectly positioned at the exits to all the straits into the Indian Ocean. They could block China’s trade with the Persian Gulf very cheaply and it would require enormous effort and resources for China to force the straits and keep them open.
A blockade would be bloodless and Taiwan would concede in weeks.