China-Taiwan conflict

Over the past few decades, the world has seen the military balance shift in China’s favor. Yet, Taiwan is not without its opportunities.

Taiwan’s history of resistance against colonizers – whether European, Japanese, or Chinese – and multi-ethnic nation-building deserves recognition. 

A PLA command structure in disarray and a hawkish Trump Cabinet could lead to disastrous miscalculation over Taiwan.

What does Beijing hope to achieve?

While the situations are not identical, the tactical and geopolitical parallels make the Falklands War worth studying in the Taiwan context.

Once again the former Australian prime minister has made headlines, this time by making the ahistorical claim that Taiwan is “sitting on Chinese real estate.”

Is China's military the juggernaut some imagine, or a paper tiger like Russia's degraded armed forces? Either way, getting a definitive answer would be terrible for almost everyone.

Taiwan’s election season will likely stabilize the cross-strait situation, but all bets are off when the new administration comes into office.

As tensions around Taiwan increase, remote Okinawan islands look to prepare for a possible conflict by investing in evacuation shelters and other defensive infrastructure.

ASEAN would not be insulated from any damaging consequences arising from a Taiwan Strait conflict, particularly when it comes to their citizens working in Taiwan. 

A cross-strait conflict would involve tremendous human suffering – and major difficulties in providing humanitarian aid.

While providing Taiwan with nuclear weapons may not be practical, including Taiwan under the U.S. nuclear umbrella is a feasible alternative.