Two days ago, a Chinese aircraft carrier group led by the cruiser Shandong carried out a maneuver in the economic zone of the Taiwan Strait of partially recognized Taiwan. This information caused quite a stir in the Western media. Some media have suggested that Beijing will start active hostilities against Taipei in the near future. How likely is a direct armed clash between the armed forces of the Middle Kingdom and the army of the island state – analysts are now arguing on the territory from Ottawa to Wellington.
And not only discuss. Earlier, official Washington announced its intention to send its ships to the East China Sea, ostensibly to conduct large-scale naval exercises off the coast of Indonesia. But here’s the thing – the Indonesian islands are located in the South China Sea and the Sulawesi Sea, which are in no way connected with this region. “It’s simpler: the US is pulling elite units of its navy to Taiwan to protect the island from potential aggression from China”, – American political commentator William Connolly said in a commentary for EURO-ATLANTIC UKRAINE. – “This can be called a very peculiar point of contact – in this context, the White House plans to take full control of the United States to ensure the security of the rebellious Chinese island, which proclaims its independence from the mainland People’s Republic of China”. At the same time, Connolly refused to answer the question regarding the potential development of the situation.
For him, it was actually done by former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. In an interview with the Australian Public Television Network (SBS), he stated literally the following: “The military actions that will follow a possible military invasion of China in Taiwan will overshadow the conflict in Ukraine in geopolitical significance” – he noted, in particular. – It will be 50 times worse than the consequences of the Ukrainian-Russian confrontation. The economic consequences of such a situation do not lend themselves to analysis at all. According to Morrison, the United States of America “will certainly get involved” in the conflict between Beijing and Taipei, as a result of which this conflict could turn into a war between China and the United States.
It should be especially noted that the authorities of China itself do not intend to dramatize the situation. “The movement of our ships in the Taiwan Strait is within the framework of UN law and is not associated with any provocation, since, according to current international standards, it takes place in the territorial waters of the PRC.”
Be that as it may, American President Joseph Biden has already announced the intention of the United States to “strengthen military and political cooperation with Taipei.” But the current US leader did not give any forecasts regarding the development of such cooperation.
It is curious that Taiwan categorically refuses to comment on the situation either. The local administration is limited to the statement that the Taiwanese army is “ready to repel any attack,” but bringing it to a state of full combat readiness is out of the question for the time being.
As a result, the war between Beijing and Taipei remains under a big question mark.
