Latest
-
Project HOOD Announces ‘72 Hours of Hope’ National Campout for Change November 14, 2024
-
Visit Chicago Southland Cuts Ribbon on New Visitor Information Center November 14, 2024
-
Largest Fast Play Jackpot in U.S. History Up for Grabs November 14, 2024
Popular
Tags
Artistas Adolescentes Aprenden el Valor de un Arduo Trabajo
Artists Nationwide
Brazilian Students Tour Kirie Water Reclamation Plant
Challenges of Returning to School in Adulthood
Chicago
Chicago Air and Water Show
Chicago CPS
Chicago Dream Act
Comparta su Historia
CPS
Cultura Latina
Delicious Salad Meals
Dream Act
Dream Act chicago
Dream Relief
Dream Relief Chicago
El Alma de la Fiesta
Ending Summer on the Right Foot
Ensaladas sencillas y deliciosas como plato principal
Estudiantes Brasileños Recorren la Planta de Reclamación de Agua Kirie
Feria de Regreso a la Escuela de la Rep. Berrios
Festival Unísono en Pilsen
Grant Park Spirit of Music Garden
ICIRR
ICIRR Receives Criticism Over Dream Relief Day
ICIRR Recibe Críticas
Jose Cuervo Tradicional
José Cuervo
José Cuervo Tradicional Celebra la Cultura Latina e Inspira Artistas a Nivel Nacional
Latin Culture
Los Retos de Volver a la Escuela Cuando Adultos
Meijer Abre sus Puertas en el Distrito de Berwyn
Meijer Opens in Berwyn District
orth side Summer Fest on Lincoln Ave
PepsiCo Foundation Apoya Futuros Periodistas Hispanos
PepsiCo Foundation Supports Future Hispanic Journalists
Share Your Story
Show Acuático y Aéreo
Simple
StoryCorps
storycorps.org
Teen Artists Learn the Value of Hard Work
Terminando el Verano con el Pie Derecho
Unisono Festival in Pilsen
‘El Chente’
A Possible China-Taiwan Conflict?
By Daniel Nardini
My friend Russ, who has lived in Taiwan for 32 years, told me that more air raid drills were being conducted across the island. He saw on Taiwan TV more new programs of the Taiwan military preparing battle simulations, and Taiwan TV also showed more Chinese aircraft and naval ships intruding into Taiwan’s air and water defense zones. All of this seems to show that China is ratcheting up the conflict level with Taiwan. It seems that the Chinese military is pushing the envelope in what it will do against Taiwan, and seems to be preparing for war. Taiwan is equally preparing for war as the Taiwan government has announced it will spend an additional U.S. $15 billion to its defense budget. For an island the size of Taiwan, that is a huge amount.
During the last weekend, the Chinese military has sent over 100 military aircraft into Taiwan’s air defense zone. These aircraft were not just fighter jets but included bombers and nuclear-capable bombers that can carry nuclear weapons. If the Chinese military ever tried to do anything like this to the United States, there is little doubt that this would be an act of war. That the Chinese military is doing this to Taiwan is becoming terrifying. One other thing I should mention is that both U.S. and Japanese battleships are in the area, watching the Chinese. If China should indeed attack Taiwan, what would the U.S. and Japanese armed forces do, and would they by involved in a military confrontation with China?
To understand what this is all about, I should provide a little background why there is a conflict between China and Taiwan. It started with the end of World War II. After the Japanese surrendered to the Allied forces (China being on the side of the Allies), the then Republic of China was given Taiwan as a prize for its fight against Japan. The Republic of China was under the rule of the Nationalist Party then led by President Chiang Kai-shek. Japan had seized control of Taiwan in 1895, and the Allied forces had returned the island to China in 1945. However, a civil war between the Chinese Nationalists and the Chinese Communists had erupted, and the Communists won and took over all of China in 1949. The Nationalists retreated to Taiwan.
That Nationalists then ruled Taiwan as a de facto independent country from 1949 until they lost power in 2000. Since then, Taiwan has become a democratic multi-party state with freedom of the press, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and with free elections being held every four years. The Communists, who have ruled China since 1949, have created a totalitarian one-party state. Since they took control of all China, they have vowed to take Taiwan as well. With the advent of the dictatorship of China’s current leader Xi Jinping, China looks poised to try to take Taiwan. The danger is that war could erupt between Japan and the United States on the one hand and China on the other. The one big question now is will China pull the trigger?