"The Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-U.S. relations," Xi Jinping told President Donald Trump during their summit this month,accordingto Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning. "If it is handled properly, the bilateral relationship will enjoy overall stability. Otherwise, the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy."
"The Taiwan Question," according to China's embassy in Washington, is the first of "the four red lines" in China-U.S. relations that "must not be challenged."
The People's Republic of China, however, is bluffing.
As an initial matter, China's regime has no red lines and no principles. It moves its "lines" as a result of changing perceptions of its own bargaining position. Furthermore, throughout the history of the People's Republic the country's external policies have been tightly bound to internal political intrigue and have changed accordingly. At the moment, Xi's favored form of diplomacy is intimidation, so he tries to make it appear that he will never change his positions.
Nonetheless, for Xi, everything is ultimately negotiable -- including Taiwan.
Xihasto negotiate. China's military is not now able to carry through on his threats to use force to annex Taiwan. His intensifying purges of generals and admirals have left no operational officers on the Communist Party's Central Military Commission, the top of the military. Close coordination is necessary to launch a complex air-land-sea invasion of the main island of Taiwan.
Moreover, to invade, Xi would have to give some flag officer almost complete control over the People's Liberation Army, making that figure the most powerful in China. That is probably not something he is willing to do at this moment.
Moreover, it is becoming evident that China's senior officers, for various reasons, do not want to undertake such a risky operation, which is why Xi often tells them, "Dare to fight."
The inability of the Chinese military gives the U.S. the cost-free opportunity to arm Taiwan.
In December, the Trump administrationapproveda $11.1 billion package of weapons, the largest American arms package for Taiwan ever.
Source: Gatestone Institute :: Articles
