Taiwan President Shot (Update: Wounds not life-threatening)

[BurbankKarl]

KCAL9 News reported just went across the wires

[heleny]

If this is Chinese intelligence or military this could mean WW3! Seems like this should be the top story

Maybe the news channels don't have reporters over there? Or, they decided it wasn't more important than other news if the wounds weren't life-threatening, and they didn't want to speculate on the perpetrator?

[RightWhale]

It could be, and France is with China!

[Rams82]

If it is China and Chen wins, which I'm sure he will now, I believe that there will be talk of independence in Taiwan.

[Arkinsaw]

And you better define what you mean by 'successful amphibious' operation. If you accomplish the mission/political objective without even landing a troop or firing a shot, that is successful in my book. The US often accomplishes its objetives by a mere show of force.

I thought it was pretty clear that we were discussing whether PRC had the technical and logistical capability to conquer and seize the island of Taiwan militarily through invasion.

They don't...at all. If you are turning the conversation towards just whether or not the PRC can achieve psycho-political objectives by being scary then thats a different debate. PRC could in fact obliterate Taiwan with non-conventional weaponry if it wanted. But thats not what I was discussing.

[Rams82]

I believe they would probably try to choke Taiwan with a naval blockade of the island

[Magnum44]

I thought it was pretty clear that we were discussing whether PRC had the technical and logistical capability to conquer and seize the island of Taiwan militarily through invasion.

I still argue that they pose a serious threat, and given that they can blockade TWN, and an island is simply a fortress, that under siege will eventually fall, they are capable of achieving that militarily (without US intervention).

As to changing the argument, I rarely argue things that are irrelevant. A military capability is pointless unless it serves some purpose. Convincing TWN to capitulate with as little fighting as possible is as much a goal of the PRC as getting Iraq to capitulate was to us last spring. What is important is whether they have the persuasive power to influence the TWN govt, and they definitely do. It is the policy of the US to see that they do not use violence as the means of reuniting TWN and PRC.

[Dr. Marten]

I just came back into the States last night from a trip in China, but from what I have heard in initial reports is that Chen is suspected of staging this as an election stunt. I wouldn't put it past him.

[MEG33]

This election is a mess!