China and Taiwan blockade

Please don’t let Liz Truss near a microphone to comment.

Maybe we needn't worry about Liz Truss she's not tops on Geography she probably thinks Taiwan is part of Japan or Korea
Joking over the situation in Taiwan is very worrying. How could Nancy Pelosi go and visit seemingly without Bidens go ahead? Was it an open visit with an undercurrent meaning?
A lot of our goods don't just come from China it said in the news that 60% of [I think] chips used in the world's technology are produced in Taiwan. If the Chinese blockade including air space,as they are planning to do for the next few days it would be catestrophic.

If sanctions or trade restrictions get put in place, we're screwed. Everything from finance to cars to healthcare is digital and is provided by Taiwan's monopoly of the semi conductor industry. Between that and the impacts of the Ukraine - Russia war, things ain't looking too good.

With NATO struggling with Ukraine they might just seize the tactical advantage

It is very worrying. China has been playing the long game buying up huge tracts of land in Africa, building ports and infrastructure in all parts of the world and selling us cheap manufactured goods. If it blockades Taiwan or even worse, invades it, we are basically stuffed! Something like two thirds of the world chip production is based in Taiwan and they also produce the higher quality ones. We can't just build our own factories as they are extremely specialised and expensive to build. Sorry to be so gloomy but it's difficult to find anything to be positive about. The western world has been cuddling up to Russia and China and we are seen as weak and divided.

Multiple Chinese missile launches into Taiwan Strait are happening right now. Not good.

I think Nancy Pelosi's visit was a big mistake on her part.
Such an unnecessary provocation.

I agree nanna8 and henetha very worrying situation.

I'm feeling very worried about the world situation now. Can't get it out of my mind. Are we doomed?

It is an extra worry on top of the Russian situation. We could have done without this now. Thanks Nancy.

foxie48

It is very worrying. China has been playing the long game buying up huge tracts of land in Africa, building ports and infrastructure in all parts of the world and selling us cheap manufactured goods. If it blockades Taiwan or even worse, invades it, we are basically stuffed! Something like two thirds of the world chip production is based in Taiwan and they also produce the higher quality ones. We can't just build our own factories as they are extremely specialised and expensive to build. Sorry to be so gloomy but it's difficult to find anything to be positive about. The western world has been cuddling up to Russia and China and we are seen as weak and divided.

I think someone was planning to build a factory in Devon but didn’t get government backing ( I need to as DH who told me about it). Yet another one of the big decisions they didn’t get right.

It is very worrying indeed.

I fear for the Taiwanese and for all of us; it seems as if the bully boys of the world are taunting the West and waiting to see if there is a response.

henetha

I think Nancy Pelosi's visit was a big mistake on her part.
Such an unnecessary provocation.

This is not a sudden decision on the part of China.

nancy pelosi, absolute idiot, stupid provocative thing to do

karmalady

nancy pelosi, absolute idiot, stupid provocative thing to do

May well have been but if it wasn't that there would be some other reason
They would find some other excuse for their actions

I think that the Americans haven’t yet grasped that their position as world leaders is on the wane. Frightening to think of because they are extremely belligerent, especially under Biden.

nanna8 I find it interesting that you see the US as belligerent, I see China (and Russia) as belligerent. We have the current war in Ukraine because we thought if we ignored Russia's incursion into Ukraine in 2014, we could all live happily ever after (clearly not those Ukrainians who lived in the occupied territory though!) So, China is allowed to decide who can visit Taiwan and when their demand is ignored, they send a fleet of ships to fire ballistic weapons. Surely that is belligerent behaviour? Yes it's frightening to realise how easily we could have another war but backing down to bullies doesn't protect anyone in the long run.

I agree about not backing down to bullies.
We have sat back and done a lot of commerce with these countries who have now turned beligerant . Perhaps China was watching the Wests reaction to Putin and the Ukraine and then put long held plans into action. I thought at first Nancy Pelosi was looking for trouble and still do but perhaps the Chinese were just waiting for something to act on. They have wanted Tiawan since 1949.

China is quite capable of enforcing a permanent blockade on Taiwan by land, sea and air, their Navy is now larger than the US, although probably not as well equipped, why would they have a blockade exercise, just to prove they can?, or as prelude for a siege.

We have stood by and allowed China to dominate technology and trade, while they build up a military arsenal to rival the US, all it needs now is North Korea to threaten the South and our cheap imported technology is suddenly not there.

Fallout from Trump. For decades, America's diplomatic dealings with Taiwan were governed by intricate and arcane rules designed to support a key Asian partner without provoking Beijing — and avoid war in the Taiwan Strait. Details of the U.S. strategy toward China, meanwhile, were shrouded in secrecy. Those rules went out the window.

With days left in office, the Trump administration has cast aside long-standing policies toward China and Taiwan, both raising expectations and setting new constraints for dealing with its largest geopolitical competitor.

The Chinese are far closer to home than some people realise.
They now own the port of Piraeus.
They are a major stake holder in Thessaloniki.
The literally own Macedonia.
They have stakes in ports in Spain and France.
And even closer to home: Rotterdam and Antwerp.
Nice and handy if you ever needed to put your war ships somewhere. Just saying. ,

MerylStreep

The Chinese are far closer to home than some people realise.
They now own the port of Piraeus.
They are a major stake holder in Thessaloniki.
The literally own Macedonia.
They have stakes in ports in Spain and France.
And even closer to home: Rotterdam and Antwerp.
Nice and handy if you ever needed to put your war ships somewhere. Just saying. ,

Far far too close!.

And are jointly funding Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power Station

nanna8

I think that the Americans haven’t yet grasped that their position as world leaders is on the wane. Frightening to think of because they are extremely belligerent, especially under Biden.

How many Australian islands off the Australian coast are now leased or owned by the Chinese?