China is escalating tensions by conducting military exercises near Taiwan for the second consecutive day. Experts find it difficult to predict the outcome of the situation and do not rule out worrying scenarios a priori. “China is looking for reasons to be provoked.”
Speaking to Hugo Reitsma earlier this week, Financial Times chief foreign affairs commentator Gideon Rachman expressed his concerns. ‘I don’t know how this will end. They can do it for a week or two and then stop. The struggle China is waging is psychological, but it can certainly escalate.’
China is now conducting military exercises for the second consecutive day. Nine Chinese warships and 58 aircraft are currently operating on the island. It is seen as a response to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s controversial state visit to the United States.
Russian style
The situation reminds Rachman of the war in Ukraine. “China has a kind of Russian style, really looking for reasons to be provoked. President Xi Jinping has repeatedly stated that he plans to annex Taiwan as part of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese people, thus ensuring Xi’s place in Chinese history.’
Rachman sees that the status quo is changing due to the situation. For years, the United States has exploited strategic ambiguity by not speaking out about Taiwan’s status. Biden is now doing it, but US government officials say otherwise. Rachman calls this “layered strategic ambiguity.”
economic interest
Yet, in addition to his political goals, Xi also needs economic growth, for which he cannot do without the US and European markets. “If China loses those markets, it will be a big problem for the country. On the other hand, it is the largest exporter and producer in the world. With Huawei, for example, we’ve seen it banned from the US market, but it still serves huge markets in Africa and Southeast Asia.”
In recent years it seems that geopolitics has become more important than economic success. Rachman: ‘Now we have leaders in Moscow and Beijing, and to some extent in Washington, who say: politics is the most important thing and the economy fits. This is a big change. I hope they are smart enough to realize that putting political interests first is not a smart choice if it destroys the economy.”
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Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
