Chinese invasion of Taiwan 'imminent,' warns US

[AZLD4Candidate]

Source: MSN

A Chinese invasion of Taiwan “could be imminent” Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, has warned, as he claimed Beijing was “credibly preparing” to use military force to upend the “balance of power in the Indo-Pacific”.

“The threat China poses is real and it could be imminent,” Mr Hegseth said at the Shangri-La Dialogue, a security conference attended by defence officials from around the world.

Mr Hegseth warned the Chinese forces were building the capabilities to invade Taiwan and “rehearsing for the real deal”.

Beijing has ramped up military pressure on Taiwan and held multiple large-scale exercises around the island, often described as preparations for a blockade or invasion.

The US was “reorienting toward deterring aggression by communist China”, Hegseth said, calling on US allies and partners in Asia to swiftly upgrade their defences in the face of mounting threats.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/chinese-invasion-of-taiwan-imminent-warns-us/ar-AA1FPDX9?ocid=winp2fptaskbarhover&cvid=ffb1eace70d249e1878f837e68b5fff1&ei=13#comments

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Winnie the Flu is an asshole, like Putler and Agent Orange. Three devils that will die to argue over who gets to control Hell.

[Ponietz]

1. What allies, Pete?

El Salvador, Libya, and Sudan. God help us. Help Taiwan

[enid602]

2. Taiwan?

Still can’t understand why they would attack Taiwan when all of Eastern Russia and Siberia are basically unpopulated, and given Russia’s concentration of forces in the west, undefended.

[liberalgunwilltravel]

4. Taiwan is productive

The areas you mention aren't.

[enid602]

12. Russia

I think Russia and China’s current love affair is a matter of convenience, and will go the way of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. Taiwan’s economic importance (and China’s dependence on the microchips) will make China think twice before upsetting the apple cart.

Much of Eastern Russia was part of China prior to Japan’s invasion of China during WWIi. China has presented the UN with claims on this land. I predict that Russia will soon be a rump state consisting of Moscow and St Petersburg.

[thought crime]

38. Russia is China's Gas Station, not much more

[thought crime]

40. That is really why China isn't invading Taiwan

Taiwan is the Golden Goose.

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

8. National pride and CCP ideology

Taiwan has always been seen as a breakaway province of the mainland and reunification has been the position of the CCP since the beginning. Having said breakaway province prospering under a democratic government and capitalism is another issue. Nowadays, that's probably taking a backseat to 1 major asset that exists in Taiwan, TSMC. That company and it's factories produce 90% of the most advanced microchips that are used worldwide. A total of 60-70% of all microchips are from TSMC, though i think only about 20-25% physically come from Taiwan. China wants control of that. If China were to gain control of TSMC it would dominate general microchip production and have a near monopoly on the most advanced chips.

[bigendian]

28. Strategic destruction of the factories.

Destroy everything as you retreat. That’s why Biden is so hot to manufacture here.
If war breaks out, chips become a sought after commodity.

[Xolodno]

20. They don't need to.

Most border cities have Chinese Nationals either living there or people who cross the border everyday to work. Russia pays the infrastructure and they reap some of the benefits. It's a win-win situation for both of them. Plus, China isn't interested in getting into a nuclear exchange with Russia. Furthermore, hostilities between the two would play into USA's and EU's interest. They are not going to cut their nose off to spite their face.

[Exp]

33. Taking Taiwan would give China a more legitimate claim to the surrounding seas. nt

[thought crime]

39. Taiwan is part of China

[Evolve Dammit]

3. This could start WWIII IMHO

[liberalgunwilltravel]

5. No it won't

President TACO will invite Xi to Mar-A-Lago to look at top secret documents in the bathroom.

[thought crime]

41. Art of the deal: Xi gets Taiwan, Trump gets ...Greenland

[walkingman]

6. I hope we still have people with some sense in military leadership and

in our government. It would be insanity to get in a confrontation with China over Taiwan.
I worry that might not be the case. In my lifetime, US foreign policy has been terrible and although we don't seem to have problem thumping our chest about our military strength, our track record over the last 75 years has been dismal and caused unbelievable death and carnage as we engaged in proxy wars with countries that posed little or no danger to us or our homeland.
That would not be the case with China or a 21st century WW.

It's one thing to play tough guy but it is an entirely different matter if you are directly affected. We have not had a conflict in since the Civil War that directly affected our homeland and I worry that the leadership we now have does not have the intelligence or experience to know how to effectively deal with such a situation.

So the stupid motherfucker (Hegseth) needs to STFU and lay off the Jack Daniels before his mouth overloads his ass.

[thought crime]

42. Our track record is no nuclear warfare

For the simple reason that leaders are at risk.

[C_U_L8R]

7. Looks like Orange Chicken is being served.

Patsy Pickled Pete and his feathery boss are just the fools China has been waiting for.

[thought crime]

43. True, if they understand that the blustering buffoon is all bluff

[wolfie001]

9. Great time to invade with a corrupt POS in the WH

Just send him some $. He'll settle for that and call it a day.

[thought crime]

44. They may not want to cook the Golden Goose

[wolfie001]

48. Curious, I don't understand your take

Isn't Taiwan just a larger Hong Kong? Xi wants everything and everyone to conform.

[jls4561]

10. And Pete, I feel soo much safer knowing that that you have installed a makeup room in the Pentagon.

It’s soo important that our warriors be camera ready at all times.

Should I bother to post a sarcasm emoji?

[lonely bird]

11. Hey!

C’mon. A “warfighter” like Pete can’t go into battle without making sure his makeup and hair look good.

[thought crime]

45. Careful! He might roll up his sleeves to show his tattoos. So scary!

[GB_RN]

13. If It Was Coming From A Legitimate...

And credible source (i.e., anyone NOT associated with Cantaloupe Caligula the Corpulent, or a drunk, or…) then I might believe it. But these assholes create shit as distractions from their incompetence, fumbling, grift, graft and stupidity.

Yeah, this doesn’t pass the bullshit detecter.

[Shipwack]

30. 💯 my first thought, too.

This “threat” is in the same category as the “huge”amounts of fentanyl coming from Canada and an autism awareness tattoo being a gang symbol.

I suppose the mis-administration is trying to win back former allies and make the US relevant again. Unfortunately, his (and his orange boss) only recognize violence and its threat as proof of power. Thus every argument has to have some sort of physical threat attached.

[Skittles]

14. how would Trump blame that on Biden?

[kkmarie]

21. It's easy to blame Biden

All Krasnov has to do it say it's Biden's fault. And the press will repeat it and the magas will believe it.

[Skittles]

23. true, dat

[Shipwack]

31. Emmanuel Goldstein was seen talking to China's leadership!

Relax, it’s a 1984 reference…

[defacto7]

15. Are we actually supposed to believe this guy?

I won't ignore the possibility but who can you trust? ... Hegseth? China? Batman? Hell, we don't have anymore information now than before he said anything.

[Bayard]

16. If they're going to do it, now is the time

I don't see trump lifting a finger to defend Taiwan.

[LudwigPastorius]

18. If I were Xi, and I wanted Taiwan, I'd invade sometime in the next three and a half years.

...because TACO.

[walkingman]

49. A even simpler solution would be to "make a deal" with Trump

he is very transactional and could give a shit about America or anyone other than himself.

[hay rick]

19. Taiwan will be collateral damage.

Xi should be in no hurry. Trump's catastrophic mismanagement of the economy and sabotage of American universities and research institutions will rapidly demote the United States from its current status as one of two economic superpowers and the world's preeminent military power. The damage already done by Doge, MAGA, and Trump is probably irreversible and our decline will only accelerate for years to come.

[thought crime]

46. Yep. "Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake." - Napolean

Make some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the show.

[kkmarie]

22. I'm googling like crazy and the only mention of a war

China was talking about is a trade war. And this is from 2023
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14650045.2023.2253432#:~:text=While%20the%20US%20was%20able,refer%20to%20it%20as%20CWII.

It's very scary to think that Pissdrunk Pete wants to play army. And there are no rational minds in this regime to stop him.

And why don't we care more about the US not holding up their end of the Budapest Memorandum?

[thought crime]

47. military blogs and such

They assume a war with China will occur in 2026/2027 because Xi supposedly told China's military leaders to be prepared for an invasion of Taiwan by that time. The far right military bloggers absolutely believe it, because they're a bunch of nuts.

But the US military has been increasing exercises near China with Japan and Korea, and is building up forces in the Philippines.

[taxi]

24. Well, you know, Pete, all these plans and contingency plans

definitely continue to exist for military operations around the world. Each and every one 'could be imminent' when the events on which they are based exist. As far as credible goes, isn't it 5:30 somewhere? Maybe ask Jeanine what she thinks about this, if she's there.

[AverageOldGuy]

25. SECDEF Hogsbreath is full of shit

China does not need the grief that will come with invading Taiwan. We've been through this time and time again.

I suspect something big is about to break involving Hogsbreath and booze, woman/women. Pentagon shake-up, or something else that will expose more of his ignorance and incompetence. It's known as "wag the dog.."

[JustAnotherGen]

26. How many shots

Did Hegseth throw back with Pirro before he made this up?

You want to shut down the global supply chain? Do this.

[Lovie777]

27. The rate the world in general is going.................

shithole musk republicans and their effed up ideology for a long time - end times is on track.

The most hated people of this day may kill and destroy mother earth.

Is there hope? Yes.

[CanonRay]

29. Why wouldn't they?

We have the weakest and worst possible leadership, and are completely divided. What better time?

[Shipwack]

32. Is it a real threat? Yes, I suppose.

China does really want Taiwan back as a fully integrated state. The chance of an invasion is non-zero.

However:
1) Though they probably , but not definitely, could win it back, it would not be easy and it would be costly for both sides.
2) An invasion would probably destroy the factories and institutions that make Taiwan such a prize. Is its existence an embarrassment to China? Yes. Is national pride sufficient reason alone to invade? If I could accurately answer that I’d be living in Virginia and committing to a well paying job in DC. 😉
3) The Chinese government has more impulse control in its little finger than Trump et al has ever had. They are able to play the long game. The very long game. The newest generation of Taiwan youth don’t see China the same way their elders do. Give it another few decades, and they’ll probably ask to join the mainland.

[The Madcap]

35. They (China) might be better off with a serious Taiwan trade agreement.

It's not as if China is the 1930's-1950's version of itself any longer. They do have something to offer Taiwan and vice versa, as long as they can keep from acting on imperialistic instincts.

[Shipwack]

36. True, that.

That’s the logical viewpoint. However…

I am by no means an expert on China, but I think that publicly embracing that point of view would take a while. While they might be able to implement long range plans more easily than we can, I think the Chinese ship of state can only change course gradually.

[andym]

34. Well, not sure how likely this is, but strong global trade was one of the greater forces preventing a Taiwan invasion

and Trump has basically taken this off the table due to his excessive tariffs to punish China for being "unfair."

[thought crime]

37. Couldn't possibly happen while Trump is president, right?

TACO