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The United States has a history of putting rivals on the world stage in a corner economically, obligating them to make the first moves to war.One of the most famous examples of this strategy came on July 26, 1941.On that date, President Franklin Roosevelt introduced sweeping economic sanctions and asset seizures against Japan.Advertisement - story continues belowAs a result of those sanctions, “Japan lost access to three-fourths of its overseas trade and 88 percent of its imported oil,” according to History.Needing oil to maintain its military might, Japan had little choice but to declare war on the West and mobilize...

President Xi Jinping on Sunday kicked-off the 20th congress of China's ruling Communist Party with warnings that he may use force to retake Taiwan as he slammed foreign interference in its reunification efforts. The gathering of roughly 2,300 delegates from around the country began in the vast Great Hall of the People on the west side of Tiananmen Square amid tight security and under blue skies after several smoggy days in the Chinese capital. Xi began a speech that touted the party's safeguarding of national security, maintaining social stability, protecting people's lives and taking control of the situation in Hong...

Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturing prowess might be one reason for China to invade the island and seize fabs belonging to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., United Microelectronics Corp., and Micron. One of the potential responses to such a plan could be evacuating personnel and destroying the fabs, suggested Parameters, a top U.S. army publication recently. But this might be unnecessary, according to Taiwan’s National Security Bureau. To build chips using leading-edge process technologies, TSMC needs leading-edge chip production equipment from companies like ASML, Applied Materials, and KLA. Even if China invades the island and seizes TSMC’s fabs without access to advanced equipment...

One day after warning Russian President Vladimir Putin he would face "severe" economic sanctions, "like ones he's never seen," should Russia invade Ukraine, resident Joe Biden assured Americans that sending U.S. combat troops to Ukraine is "not on the table." America is not going to fight Russia over Ukraine. "The idea that the United States is going to unilaterally use force to confront Russia invading Ukraine is not in the cards," said Biden. "We have a moral obligation and a legal obligation to our NATO allies," but "that obligation does not extend to ... Ukraine." Anti-interventionists who have opposed bringing...

“It’s the end of the world (and I feel fine)” is a great song from the band REM. I was reminded of the song today as, contrary to the media narrative, Evergrande made a $83.5 million bond payment. While the common narrative is that international/non-Chinese investors will get the short end of the stick versus Mainland bondholders, the payment was to international investors. That being said, Evergrande is by no means out of the woods yet as this issue will keep rearing its head in the near term. However, it is abundantly clear that Chinese regulators and policymakers are aware...

Whilst browsing the Internet I figured out that today is not only Columbus Day but also double 10th day in Taiwan. This is a celebration of the true government of the Republic of China Based in Taiwan. It has been celebrated since 1911. If I lived in Taiwan I definitely would have a colt 1911.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has sparked a flurry of critical reactions after telling the Financial Times that he thinks conflict over Taiwan is inevitable and the self-governed island should become a “special administrative region” under Beijing’s control, like Hong Kong but “more lenient.” Musk made the remarks in a Financial Times interview published on Oct. 7, after being asked about China, where Tesla manufactures as much as half of its total output. If an open conflict over Taiwan were to break out, which Musk said he thinks is bound to happen, then Tesla would get caught up in it, he...

aiwan underscored its own "red line" on Wednesday after its defense minister said Taiwanese forces wouldn't be moved by China's military maneuvers around the island. Taiwan underscored its own "red line" on Wednesday after its defense minister said Taiwanese forces wouldn't be moved by China's military maneuvers around the island. Taiwan’s defense minister, Chiu Kuo-cheng, then intelligence chief, attends a press conference on August 2, 2019, in Taipei, Taiwan. Chiu told the island’s lawmakers on October 5, 2022, that Taiwanese forces would counterattack if China’s aircraft crossed Taiwan’s “red line.” Taiwan’s defense minister, Chiu Kuo-cheng, then intelligence chief, attends a...

“Stockpiling in Taiwan is a very active point of discussion,” said Jacob Stokes, a fellow at the Center for a New American Security who advised Mr. Biden on Asia policy when he was vice president. “And if you have it, how do you harden it and how do you disperse it so Chinese missiles can’t destroy it?”“The view is we need to lengthen the amount of time Taiwan can hold out on its own,” he added. “That’s how you avoid China picking the low-hanging fruit of its ‘fait accompli’ strategy — that they’ve won the day before we’ve gotten there,...

At 105, Song Ping is the Chinese Communist Party's oldest retired official. Famous for once pressing former President Jiang Zemin to fully retire, Song has recently appeared in public for the first time in years. Due to his advanced age, it was only a video message. But it has caused a stir in Chinese political circles ahead of the party's once-every-five-years national congress that begins on Oct. 16. In a congratulatory message for an event on Sept. 12, the centenarian said that the policy of reform and opening-up "has been the only path to the development and progress of contemporary...

Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday accused China of “undermining key elements of the international rules-based order” and called its behavior in the East China Sea, South China Sea and Taiwan Strait “disturbing.” Harris, speaking aboard the USS Howard at the Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan, also echoed President Joe Biden’s recent comments backing Taiwan, saying the US will “continue to oppose any unilateral change to the status quo. And we will continue to support Taiwan’s self-defense, consistent with our long-standing policy.” She added that the United States believes peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is “an essential feature...

Two new polls from Morning Consult and Concerned Veterans for America show at least a plurality of Americans are tired of interventionism. The results show twice as many Americans want to send less aid to Ukraine than those who would support sending more. Meanwhile, only 17% of Americans are concerned about defending democracy around the globe. ... Only 17% of respondents told the pollsters that “upholding global democracy” was a top five concern, ranking 11th behind drugs, climate, immigration, terrorism and the economic crisis. ...

Disarray on Taiwan: Is Biden Still Commander-in-Chief? – President Joe Biden may no longer be making foreign policy, and it is unclear whether he is still discharging the duties as commander-in-chief. On “60 Minutes” on Sunday, Biden, in response to a question from Scott Pelley, declared the United States would send troops to defend Taiwan “if in fact there was an unprecedented attack.”

‘If they want to bully and put ships around Taiwan, they very much can do that,’ said Vice Adm. Karl Thomas China’s armed forces are capable of blockading Taiwan, a senior U.S. Navy official said, pointing to the size of the country’s navy, which is the world’s largest and growing at a rapid pace. “They have a very large navy, and if they want to bully and put ships around Taiwan, they very much can do that,” Vice Adm. Karl Thomas, commander of the U.S. Seventh Fleet, said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.

Vladimir Putin appeared poised to go all-in on his war in Ukraine today, sparking fears of an escalation in fighting that could drag in NATO and spark World War Three. In a day of rapid-fire developments, Kremlin stooges in Ukraine's Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions simultaneously announced referendums on becoming part of Russia between September 23 and 27, with the sham votes expected to easily pass. Dmitry Medvedev, a staunch Putin ally, then vowed 'all forces of self-defence' will be used to protect what he called 'Russian territory' - teeing up a new phase in the conflict involving weapons...

Carina Lau has become the latest Hong Kong celebrity to be criticised by Chinese netizens for her tribute to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II. The monarch died at the age of 96 on Sept 8 after 70 years on the throne. Lau, 56, shared a photo of the Queen on Instagram on Sept 9, writing in Chinese: “A tribute to Queen Elizabeth. This outstanding woman presided over a long and stable reign in a rapidly changing society. Her passing is an irreplaceable loss in our era.” Lau, who played former Chinese empress Wu Zetian in the Detective Dee movie trilogy (2010...

Many have noted the suspicious and very convenient timing regarding Azerbaijan-Armenia hostilities which serve as an additional distraction for Russia amid its special military operation in Ukraine and its ongoing operations in Syria. In addition to a recent visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Armenia, anti-CSTO protests promoted by US government-funded media organizations in Armenia point toward events being much more than convenient timing and instead similar to US-engineered unrest seen in Ukraine in 2014.

Once China invades and occupies the island, it’s over for the residents of Taiwan. The deployment of Chinese forces must be met at sea before reaching the island. Biden will neither respond at sea in time nor with sufficient airborne strength to turn back an occupying force. The GOP will take the House, but not the Senate. Biden will blame the GOP controlled House for not funding a force to liberate Taiwan. Biden will reach an agreement with the CCP to protect the residents of Taiwan while guaranteeing chip supply to the US. Taiwan’s fall will be blamed on the...

Biden: American troops would defend Taiwan if invaded by China. Whitehouse tried to walk it back later

big earthquake Taiwan, about 7:30 eastern time