While US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taipei, has drawn a sharp response from
Beijing, the situation was getting increasingly tense even before this.
Chinese warships and aircraft have time and again been used to intimidate Taiwan.
During a speech to commemorate the Communist Party's 100-year anniversary last year, Chinese
President Xi Jinping stated, "Resolving the Taiwan question and realizing
China's complete reunification is a historic mission and an unshakable commitment" of the
party.
The United States of America is still a signatory to the One China Policy which challenges the
very existence of Taiwan.
The relationship between Taiwan–the United States is unofficial and informal and is governed
by the Taiwan Relations Act.
The Taiwan Relations Act is designed to maintain ambiguity and does not state if the USA will
or will not intervene militarily if China attacks or invades Taiwan.
Under the act, the U.S is only obligated to sell “arms of a defensive character” to
Taiwan.
But factors dictate that the US will act if hostilities break out.
In this video Defense Updates analyzes why the US will intervene militarily if China
invades Taiwan ?
Let's get into the details.
Taiwan strait is considered one of the busiest shipping lanes in the region with nearly 90%
of Chinese, Japanese & Korean trade towards Asia, the Middle East and India passing through
it.
The route is significant as about $5 trillion in trade through shipping passes each year.
The sea also has alleged 11 billion barrels of untapped oil and 190 trillion cubic feet
of natural gas.
If China is able to capture Taiwan, the shipping lanes passing through the strait will be at
the whims and mercy of the CCP or Chinese Communist Party.
Since the Chinese economy is dependent upon export, absolute control over this trade route
will also remove one of its critical vulnerabilities.
In this context, it needs to be noted that China claims almost 90% of the South China
Sea through its so-called nine-dash line map.
It says that it has "indisputable sovereignty" over the sea.
Control over Taiwan Strait will embolden it to go for the South China Sea domination.
Over the last few years, several analysts have been claiming that the South China sea
is going to be the most troublesome region of the world in near future.
Taiwan has grown significantly in the past few decades and has become a 775-billion-dollar
economy It is the 22nd largest economy in the world.
Taiwan is the 11th largest trading partner of America and controls nearly 60-65% of the
semiconductor chip business of the world.
TSMC or Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company is the world's biggest chip manufacturer
and a vital supplier to the United States and other Western nations.
If China can capture Taiwan, it will get a boost in its economy as well as GDP and also
become the uncontested leader of the Semiconductor Chip market in the world.
Chips are required not only in daily electronics like television, and refrigerators but also
in weapons systems.
This will not be good news for the US which sees China as a major competitor.
Viewers may note that NATO has listed China as one of its strategic priorities for the
first time, saying Beijing’s ambitions and its “coercive policies” challenge the
Western bloc’s “interests, security and values”.
The alliance’s new blueprint, or Strategic Concept that lays out its priorities for the
next decade, was approved at a leader’s summit in Spain in June.
Taiwan is located at the concurrence of the East China Sea, South China Sea and Philippines
Sea.
It is also located southwest of the Japanese Island Chain and is very close to Okinawa.
Anyone ruling over the island gets a clear edge over its adversaries.
In case China rules it, it will have power projection not only in the Pacific but also
to Japan, the Philippines & other ASEAN countries.
It is no secret that China is looking to expand its sphere of influence.
Japan Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso had said sometime back,
“If a major problem took place in Taiwan, it would not be too much to say that it could
relate to a survival-threatening situation [for Japan], We need to think hard that Okinawa
could be the next.”
In a speech to the military, Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida said, “We will study
all options necessary to bolster our defensive capabilities, including the ability to execute
a preemptive strike against enemy bases.”
An important aspect to note is that the U.S is Japan’s ally and is bound by the treaty
of 'Mutual Cooperation and Security' to come to Japan’s aid in case Japan faces aggression
from an external party.
The first step in defending Japan will be to defend Taiwan.
The U.S. is currently the sole superpower.
It had the resources to have a presence in Afghanistan indefinitely.
Leaving Afghanistan in the hands of the Taliban gave a feeling that it is unwilling to do
the right thing when the going gets tough.
This retreat impacted its position on the world stage.
It was predicted in this channel that rivals will be invigorated and military takeovers
like in Crimea would be more likely in the coming days.
Viewers may refer to that video from the above card.
Since then a lot has happened, we witnessed President Putin sensing an American indecisiveness
embarked on his campaign against Ukraine.
So, the US will need to take decisive action if China attacks Taiwan, so as to keep its
leadership position in the world in tact.