Chinese leader Xi Jinping is pursuing a strategy to gain control of Taiwan without military conflict, leveraging U.S. President Donald Trump's equivocation on Taiwan policy. During a recent Beijing summit, Xi warned Trump that mishandling Taiwan would jeopardize bilateral relations, aiming to redefine "proper handling" by the U.S.
Xi, who seeks to bring Taiwan under China's authority by 2049, prefers a non-military solution to avoid economic repercussions and risks to his legitimacy. Following the May summit, Trump adopted Beijing's rhetoric, paused a $14 billion arms sale, and stated he didn't want to fight a war over Taiwan 9,500 miles away. This U.S. policy shift, including a U.S. Defense Secretary's omission of Taiwan at Shangri-La, aims to sow doubts about Washington's reliability, potentially leading Taiwan to seek accommodation with Beijing. China is also increasing pressure via "special maritime law enforcement operations" off Taiwan's east coast and near a controlled island in the South China Sea, asserting jurisdiction and setting a foundation for a future quarantine. These actions undermine Taiwan's defense and U.S. credibility, threatening regional alliances and shifting the balance of power towards Beijing.
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