China and Taiwan blockade

I’m afraid IF China decides to maintain a de facto blockade on Taiwan - that is controlling what goes in and out, there is nothing that anyone can do.

Why oh why does everyone seem hell bent on starting WW3? So so very scary!!

Milest0ne

One report said when China takes back Taiwan into the fold it will respect the democratic system in Taiwan. JUST LIKE IT DID IN HONG KONG ?
It is difficult to try and avoid buying anything made in china. I do try.
On holiday in New Zealand it was difficult to find any souvenirs which were not made in China .
Shall we start another buy British campaign?

Our neighbour in 60s worked for Colston electric who started the IM BACKING BRITAIN?? campaign remember that!? We've precious little to "back" nowadays we have willingly let China corner every market we need and now it greedy cheapskate ways are coming home to roost, they e even been allowed to buy up tracts of land either side of non existent HS2 corridor, it's probably not even going to be built!

CShotnik

Yes, we hope the US will defend Taiwan!

I’m in Denver,CO and not happy with the current administration. Makes one wonder if Nancy P. didn’t go over to Taiwan to initiate the Chinese takeover? I know we can’t knuckle under to China, but was that visit really a necessary visit or a publicity stunt?

Remove Putin.

You cannot go about simply " removing" people you don't like!!! USA is so simplistic! Remember Saddam? That went well without ANY plan to replace regime!?! The USA had to be goaded and almost shamed into supporting Ukraine had it not been Russia invading I doubt USA would have given 2 figs about war in Europe, , talking a good fight isn't actually fighting you know!

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Yes, we hope the US will defend Taiwan!

I’m in Denver,CO and not happy with the current administration. Makes one wonder if Nancy P. didn’t go over to Taiwan to initiate the Chinese takeover? I know we can’t knuckle under to China, but was that visit really a necessary visit or a publicity stunt?

Remove Putin.

nanna8

Well that rules China out - they are certainly not meek and they like to persecute Christians.

And Muslims.

Well that rules China out - they are certainly not meek and they like to persecute Christians.

Wasn't it written "The meek shall inherit the earth "? JUST SAYING.

Admittedly it was in the days of Mao, but I well remember our geography teacher telling us very emphatically that, ‘China is public - enemy - number - one!’

One report said when China takes back Taiwan into the fold it will respect the democratic system in Taiwan. JUST LIKE IT DID IN HONG KONG ?
It is difficult to try and avoid buying anything made in china. I do try.
On holiday in New Zealand it was difficult to find any souvenirs which were not made in China .
Shall we start another buy British campaign?

nanna8

Quite a few of them, Call. Also they are looking at PNG, our close neighbours in the North. Scary. Our new government are better at foreign policy than their predecessors, so I hope they might be able to negotiate rather than just put their backs up. They are very, very powerful and we in Australia are very weak as regards military power.

I hope so, it's very worrying, nanna8.
However, the State Premiers seem to have a lot of power

From the Spectator

If a naval blockade gave Beijing control of the export of the island’s semiconductor industry, then western leaders would find themselves beholden to China to keep their economies going. Russia’s use of gas to dampen western opposition to its actions in Ukraine would be dwarfed by China’s ability to hold the world to ransom through control of Taiwan’s chips.

Why wouldn’t they blockade Taiwan a classic undercut the opposition, then hostile take over the rest. If it does happen we play by their rules for many years.

China is doing two things with this activity off the coast of Taiwan. They are showing strength to their own citizens, don't forget China is also having a slow down of growth and although their huge population is an asset it is also difficult to keep under control and they are testing the reactions of the rest of the world. FWIW they also have massive ports in Algeciras and Hambantota in Sri Lanka. They are everywhere so we cannot pretend their belligerence isn't a threat to us all.

I’m sure Australia will be fine for now as long as they obey the Chinese demands, Now that they have a navy to challenge the US they are going to be busy taking over territory closer to home.
The US military is in no condition to confront China in their own backyard, they are far to busy being woke and inclusive, so they will sit on their hands.

Quite a few of them, Call. Also they are looking at PNG, our close neighbours in the North. Scary. Our new government are better at foreign policy than their predecessors, so I hope they might be able to negotiate rather than just put their backs up. They are very, very powerful and we in Australia are very weak as regards military power.

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?

And are jointly funding Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power Station

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!.

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. ,

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.

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.

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.

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 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.