A Chinese military official warned that a "real war" with Taiwan could break out anytime. Beijing announced additional actions to punish Taiwan and the US in response to Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei.
The Chinese government claims Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan violated the "One China" policy that has defined the relationship between Washington, Beijing and Taipei for the past several decades. The past three administrations in the White House have taken an increasingly aggressive posture toward China.
In 2011, President Barack Obama announced the "pivot to Asia" and began increasing America’s military presence in waters claimed by China. President Donald Trump named Beijing an official "competitor" to the US in the 2018 National Security Strategy. Since taking office just over a year and a half ago, Joe Biden has pledged to defend Taiwan on several occasions.
Beijing views Washington ramping up support for Taipai as meddling in China’s internal affairs and has developed military technology to prevent the US from assisting Taiwan.
Shortly after Pelosi left Taipai, China deployed military forces in several positions around Taiwan and fired missiles over the island. Maj. Gen. Meng Xiangqing, a professor at the People’s Liberation Army National Defense University, explained the drills showed that China has the ability to blockade Taiwan.
He additionally warned the simulation could be turned into a real war at any time. "We can say that we have the ability to switch the exercise into a real war at any point," he said.
China announced new diplomatic and economic actions against the US and Taiwan. On Friday, Beijing canceled talks with Washington on climate change, military relations and other issues. China and the US are the two largest contributors to global emissions.
China also sanctioned Pelosi and her immediate family. On Wednesday, China’s Ministry of Commerce announced new trade restrictions on agricultural products and natural sand.
Kyle Anzalone is the opinion editor of Antiwar.com, news editor of the Libertarian Institute, and co-host of Conflicts of Interest.
As Mercouris has pointed out in his latest videos, China has finally come to the firm conclusion that the US is an enemy and there is no point in continuing relations with it – which is the same conclusion Russian came to early this year if not before. The only beneficiary of Pelosi’s visit is Russia, who, as Mercouris says, can now say to China, “See, we told you so!” China will now engage more deeply with Russia in economic and military terms, prepare for war with the US over Taiwan, and strive for regional allies to counter the US allies in the region. China has announced that it will accelerate its plans for reunification with Taiwan, and will undoubtedly speed up its production of nuclear weapons, aircraft carriers, advanced destroyers and advanced nuclear submarines, in concert with Russia, which just last week announced its new naval doctrine with intentions to create a full-on “blue water” navy.
Here we go again. Bait and Bully until the other Party responds and then claim “They are the Aggressors”
It’s a tried and true formula. US Civil War, Spanish-American War, US entry into World War I, Pearl Harbor, and the Iranian Islamic Revolution are all good examples. (Most of the other wars were founded on outright lies as opposed to blowback from clandestine operations.)
….sticking our noses into Vietnam’s Civil War, after LBJ campaigned on “not gonna send any American boys into another Asian War”, and then as soon as elected, did.
Right on, Rightster.
Are you old enough to recall that sonofabitch’s tv commercial against Goldwater? It featured a little girl picking petals from a daisy while a mushroom cloud bloomed in the background.
Sh*t, Amerikkkans were screwed in THAT election no matter who won. Reminds me of a more recent election…
He said American boys shouldn’t have to fight for the freedom of Asians. I was young then and heard it as “wouldn’t, if I’m elected.” That’s when I learned Democrats are rotten liars.
Be careful, friend. You can’t just apply such “true sense” willy-nilly even here in this space. Someone might label you as “Putin or Xi apologist.” We’re exceptional because our regime change wars are for “democracy and freedom.” Always remember, their wars are “unprovoked and unjustified wars of aggression.” I just had my brain engraved with this message to make sure I don’t use my common sense any longer.
Are you implying that our provocations are just a smidgeon more than our perceived enemies? How on earth could you come up with that nonsense? I mean those 1000 bases spread across the globe encircling and prodding our perceived enemies is just a figment of your imagination. Having a “defense” budget that is equal to the next 10 countries combined is purely for defending our homeland. Coups? Never. So, try to tamp down your obvious prejudice against this great country. We are exceptional.
Thanks for the good advice, wars! I’ll get right on it and keep all common sense out of my head. I promise.
With everything else going on, do we really need this kind of grandstanding BS?… Did someone wake up in D.C. and say: “How can we piss off China today?!” Nancy hasn’t got the brains that God gave geese… I personally do not have time for BS. I have spent a good part of my life working for PEACE and this old b-tch is pissing in my cheerios. You assholes won’t have to just defend Taiwan, you’ll have to defend US if nukes start flying. If you can’t do your job, get out of the damn office and stay the hell out of my way. I’ll vote your sorry asses out first chance I get….
P.S. I was a little bit encouraged that the US and China finally had something in common: contributing to Climate Change!
Donna, that one sentence gave me a reeeeally bad visual!🤢
The Taiwan Policy Act of 2022 was introduced in June of this year by Senators Bob Menendez and Lindsey Graham. It very clearly violates the One China policy and provides almost $4.5 billion over the next 4 years in military aid to Taiwan. The government of China is not mistaken in its view that the US is preparing to finance an independence movement in Taiwan. They understand that the US goal is to establish a foothold in Taiwan much like the one established in Ukraine. The show of force is a warning to US to stop meddling in their internal affairs. It’s a warning that ought be heeded. China doesn’t have to confront the US to win this contest because Taiwan cannot exist without China’s permission.
https://www.foreign.senate.gov/press/chair/release/menendez-graham-introduce-comprehensive_legislation-to-overhaul-us-taiwan-policy
I agree with yours and Richard’s, but, don’t you think Washington anticipated this reaction and therefore desired it?
So as to say “I told you so, the China is evil” in the MSM, ramp up propaganda.
Much more. There are strong indicators the NeoCon elite always knew it would come to a head; and, had from the beginning resolved to not only face it, but to chose the moment. They want to get it on, and get it over with. Otherwise what is the logic of escalating tensions to this level and forcing the separation of all nations into 2 camps? It’s gone beyond Marxist logic (markets & resources) into the Nietzschean ideological ether.
You’re not the only person to notice the neocons appear to actually want war with Russia and/or China, and unless somebody has a better explanation than that they’re simply power crazed sociopaths enriching the MIC, I’m going to keep repeating my conspiracy theory that their actual objective is to get nuclear weapons used again, at least on a limited scale, so that Israel is free to nuke Iran, which is arguably becoming necessary for them to do.
I want to upvote you, but I don’t want you to be right.
Well then talk it up. Yes it sounds batshit crazy but then it would, and if it’s really happening probably the only thing that can stop it is recognizing it. They seem to more or less own Biden and the next two in line, and if they can leverage the defeat in Ukraine or get a carrier sunk off Taiwan then the military will like as not follow orders and push the buttons. Hopefully I’m just being a crank with this, but I just keep noticing things are headed the wrong direction and everybody seems considerably more baffled than usual about it.
Okay, Ted, explain to me why it’s “necessary “ for the Zionazis to nuke Iran.
Keeping in mind that there are great many Muslims residing under the Regime Occupying Palestine.
And that Jerusalem is one of Islam’s holiest cities.
IF (and that’s a very big IF) Iran were to develop nuclear capabilities, would those facts not serve as a deterrent? Along with the fact that the response from IsraHell would turn Iran into beach glass?
Israel’s security rests on regional nuclear hegemony. It must be maintained. An ongoing civilian nuclear program of sufficient scale and sophistication can quickly produce nuclear weapons once a decision is made. Iran is at that stage, and already has operational delivery systems. If Iran goes nuclear, Israel is likely finished. They will no longer have strategic dominance, and they’ve been collecting enemies for 80+ years. They’re already in demographic decline, and a nuclear armed mortal enemy would accelerate this, perhaps precipitously. And I’ve been to Israel and a handful of warheads would destroy it. There are a lot of factors, but basically a nuclear armed Iran, even without an exchange, would probably be the end of Israel, and they’re not going to leave Tehran the option, which would eventually be exercised anyway. Why do you think they’ve pulled out all the stops against them? But the JCPOA, all the sanctions, all the coalition building, all the murder, and all the attempted war ginning has failed, and the only option left is attack. But conventional bombs won’t be enough. They need to go nuclear. But they can’t under the present paradigm. They need the next one. People have a hard time seeing all this because they look at it through their suburban American white bread lens. Trust me, the Israelis see it different.
I’m not surburban, and honey I sure ain’t white bread.
And I couldn’t give one flying f*ck less about IsraHell. The planet would be well rid of it. I just don’t want the Palestinians going down with them, since it’s THEIR COUNTRY.
I’ve been in Palestine. I didn’t think about them. The Israelis and Iranians won’t either. Actually, I haven’t seen the target list for the Samson Option but I assume the Palestinians are at the top.
Well said and I very much agree, very much indeed…
Donna…you da best!
Exactly! Fuck Israel, if the Palestinians (who are the true sovereign citizens of “israHell” weren’t there I wouldn’t shed a tear if Iran attacked Israel. I would say good riddance to the Zionists. I wish there was more we could do to help the Palestinians
“There are a lot of factors, but basically a nuclear armed Iran, even without an exchange, would probably be the end of Israel”
You’re wrong… a nuclear armed Iran would most likely results in end of Israel hostilities towards Iran…!
A nuclear armed Iran would encourage emigration from Israel, perhaps precipitously, and discourage immigration to it, and Israel is already losing the demographic war. Iran having a nuclear deterrent would allow Iranian extraterritorial activity in the Middle East to expand to the next level. It would encourage other countries in the region to follow suit with their own nuclear capability. And it would fundamentally degrade the utility of Israel’s nuclear arsenal, the ultimate backing to Israel’s increasingly challenged conventional capability. There’s a reason Israel acquired nuclear weapons, and their plan doesn’t involve anybody else in the region having them. And again, I’m not saying should or shouldn’t, I’m saying won’t.
“A nuclear armed Iran would encourage emigration from Israel, perhaps precipitously, and discourage immigration to it”
So what…?! Who wants to move to Israel…?! The US jews certainly don’t want to…! All the Israelis living in Israel know the dangers of living there. They are happy with their bomb shelters…! They will not be afraid of nuclear armed Iran because they are confident their government would protect them…!
“Iran having a nuclear deterrent would allow Iranian extraterritorial activity in the Middle East to expand to the next level.”
Wrong again…! Iran has not attacked any country particularly their neighbors for 300 years. You cannot say that about Israel…! The aggressor is Israel not Iran…!
“It would encourage other countries in the region to follow suit with their own nuclear capability”
Not true… Iran’s only rival in middle east is Israel, not any other country in ME. Iran did Not make Israel their enemy…Rather, it was Israel that made Iran their enemy…!
“And it would fundamentally degrade the utility of Israel’s nuclear arsenal, the ultimate backing to Israel’s increasingly challenged conventional capability”
No, it does not degrade Israeli nukes, rather it would create a balance in the ME resulting in prolong peace…!
“There’s a reason Israel acquired nuclear weapons, and their plan doesn’t involve anybody else in the region having them.”
Well, tough…! There is new sheriff in town…! Israel needs to learn how to coexist with thier neighbors and more importantly with Iran…!
Scott Horton is quoted saying what I’m saying in an article linked this morning on the antiwar main page-
https://libertarianinstitute.org/articles/biden-and-allies-continue-to-put-iran-in-the-crosshairs/
I think you’re wrong in you’re rebuttal, for starters in your dismissal of the demographic impact, which I can assure you the Israelis are concerned about. You’re making a case, actually a fairly weak one, for why Israel should tolerate an Iranian bomb, but you’re missing the point, which is that they won’t, and since they won’t, the US won’t, because it’s Israel’s bitch, which makes it fairly useless to argue with the US government about this subject so maybe you should email the Israelis with your reassurances, or maybe send a supportive email to the Iranians, though I think they would prefer anti-ballistic missiles. Again, this isn’t about what either of us thinks is desired or justified, it’s about what the Israelis may be about to do.
And as long as this thread is still going, Blinken said a few days ago the US will use nuclear weapons to “defend the vital interests of the United States, its allies, and partners”. “Defending the vital interests”, whatever that means, of “partners”, whoever those are, is a dramatic
lowering of the nuclear threshold. We’re being prepped for the use of nuclear weapons.
Amen to that netman!
You left out wanting war with Iran. And Venezuela. And Cuba,
And… well, just about any country would do. Neo-Cons want war with______ fill in the blank.
The war machine is always looking for meat, poking Cuba and Venezuela is just business as usual, but Russia and China are the nuclear big league. And I suspect a nuclear attack on Iran is the ultimate objective.
Yes. I’m sure that Washington expected a reaction. But I’ll bet that they expected something completely different.
‘The Day the Earth Stood’ Still seems to be are only viable hope anymore since you humans are obviously utterly insane…
#1: “I object! ”
#2: “But it’s the truth!!”
#1: “Then I object to the truth!”
self-delusion is a condition,born with,in abundance…
“threatens real war”
none of those mamby-pamby uncle sam type wars for us!
Don’t worry, folks. China is bluffing and we haven’t finished provoking them yet. Next, we will establish a military base in Taiwan. If that doesn’t start WWIII, I don’t know what else would. But, I’m no expert.
You’re pretty close to an expert NA…
They wouldnt need a military base, just get Taiwan to declare independence with US backing and that would kick off a big war.
I agree. My entire entry was nonsense. China is already provoked.
The author talks about the US becoming more aggressive, but ignores China’s increasing aggression towards Taiwan. Chinese military flights into Taiwan’s defense space were common even before this current military show of force, which is only meant to tell the Taiwanese: “You will never get independence.” It’s disingenuous of China to keep using the “one China” policy as their excuse for all the hype over Pelosi’s visit. China has always meant to impose reunification on Taiwan, either peacefully or through force. But times have changed, and the younger generation in Taiwan, having grown up in a democracy, have no desire to live in an authoritarian dictatorship.
They “live in an authoritarian dictatorship” right now, run by the USA.
The author ignores, also, the ruling Progressive Party in Taiwan has been reneging on previous agreements with China and moving towards independence, which changed the status quo. Our earlier (years ago) stated policy is that we didn’t want either of the two to change the status quo, which was a kind of neutrality for Taiwan in that we didn’t give them more and more advanced weaponry. This is not just about Pelosi, this has been a result of change of policy by Taiwan and the United States.
Taiwan isn’t “moving toward independence.”
Taiwan has been “independent” of Beijing since 1895.
Taiwan may be moving away from pretending that it isn’t independent, though.
Idiot.
Thomas, there you are!
How’s the garden doing? Success this year? Yours is way ahead of mine, I’m sure.
For the first time ever, my cucumber crop was a near-epic fail. I believe the plants contracted a virus. So, no pickles this year 😟
Thanks to some much-needed rainfall—- we were experiencing drought conditions—-the ears on the sweet corn are fattening up. We’re harvesting summer squash, peppers, tomatoes and beets, and have plenty of hard squash and pumpkins to look forward to.
What’d you grow this year?
Garden 1.0 (this spring) did fairly well. I can’t complain since I’m still feeling my way back into gardening in general and specifically gardening in Florida’s weird 2-3 growing season setup. I was disappointed that my corn produced a few stunted ears and nothing else.
Garden 2.0 is just starting. I have potatoes, squash, cucumber, tomatoes, and radish all growing but looking not that healthy. I don’t know if I am over-watering, over-feeding, under-one-of-those-things, or just got the planting times wrong (guides vary, and often assume inside “seedling cell” planting, where I go directly into the ground). Cauliflower, onions, and tobacco just went in the ground over the weekend, and corn should be planted later this month according to the guide I chose.
Glad you’re getting some good food on the table from yours!
The younger generation of Taiwanese seem to have a lot of them living in China working or going to school there. The people of China seem to be just as happy or happier than the people of Taiwan.
BTW what’s wrong with China reclaiming Taiwan? What business is it of the United States? Wasn’t that many years ago when “the world” recognized one China with Taipei as the capital city and when that government occupied the permanent UN Security Council Seat at the UN. Sour grapes now? Little bit too late, especially after we cut Taiwan adrift in 1979 severing diplomatic ties and axing our Mutual Defense Treaty.
Rightster, my neighbor was a GM engineer and was sent to China for work for several years. His wife taught English while they were there.
After they returned home, he requested that they return to China for seven more years!
They loved China and frequently go back to visit.
Chicken vs. egg.
Or to use a Chinese saying, “The nail that sticks up is the one that gets hammered.”
It is very instructive to see the result of not only a weak leader but a non-existent leader in the case of senile angry old man Joey Biden.
Not only do foreign leader disrespect the place holder in the White House some of them openly ridicule him. The American mainstream media just fails to cover the reaction of some foreign leaders.
Neo-Conservatives are running amuck within and outside the Biden administration. His State Department is functioning more like a war department and his Department of Defense is fomenting friction on the world stage at an unprecedented level.
Congress is off on their own Neo-Conservative bent provoking various countries. Between sending tens of $Billions to Ukraine and poking the Panda with Taiwan visits by the likes of Pelosi; there is no apparent leadership in America.
America is resembling the “Sick Man of Europe” which was Turkey a hundred years ago, more than the “Shining Light Upon The Hill” that America was just a few short decades ago.
CT, I have been alive more than a few short decades and I assure you that Amerikkka was no “shining light”.
It was rife with racism, sexism, and war.
Having grown up in the 1950s I never saw YOUR racism, sexism, and war keep the “huddled masses” from beating a path to America. From the legal immigration of the 1950s and 1960 to the illegal invasion of people in the 1900s and 2000s many people in the world have been and still are beating a path into America.
It sure looks like America was viewed by many as a shining light upon a hill!
More like a shining dollar in the distance.
Don’t tell me about immigrants: my father was one of them.
Amerikkka made him, I think, sad. He came here for opportunity but I believe he always regretted it. But he married my mom, a beautiful American woman, and we three children were American, so there was naught to do about it.
He was extremely sensitive about the injustices perpetrated by this country and particularly despised LBJ.
Just because foreigners come here doesn’t make this godforsaken place a f*cking “shining light”. Have you noticed anyone from developed countries coming here as of late?
PS Let me guess; you’re a white male?
Let me guess, you are not a white male and you have a chip on your shoulder about not being white and / or male. You expect to be given a free ride and having a fortune laid at your feet. You assume skin color gives everyone except you privileged.
Foreigners come to America because for them it is a shining light on a hill; meaning it is better than where they live. You may miss the people from the developed world including China as well as Europe and Eastern Europe coming to America among the waves of millions of illegals streaming through the southern border.
What does being a white male have to do with achievement? Hard work and IQ has more to do with achievement than skin color!
My family also immigrated to America in the first part of the last century. They worked in not so pleasant coal mines and most of their children went to college and achieved a better life.
Just because your life is a travesty does not mean everyone else is a wretched failure like you. Maybe it is time for you to take a hard look at yourself and hire a life coach to fix your problems that you blame on America society and culture!
What a total crock of shit. Do everyone a favor and stay in Singapore.
Wars, be careful, I’m starting to develop a crush on you 😉
My life is far from a “travesty”, SFB. I have been happily married for 41 years; am the proud owner of a lovely farm and home; and though my career in horticulture didn’t make me rich, it was something I enjoyed immensely and I worked harder than it’s ever possible for you to have even thought about. And I’m now enjoying retirement; my life still revolves around botanicals, as well as my non human family members. Ten years ago I achieved my lifelong dream of owning my own horse, a perfect little Morgan mare.
I dare say my life turned out better than yours!
BTW, my IQ is 134. What’s yours?
Wonderful, thank you very much for a biography. If I am ever board enough to need a pen pal I will let you know!
No thanks.
And BTW, I’m very happy to have been born female. We’re just better people. We are life-givers; men are life-takers.
No offense to some of the awesome guys on this site. I’m not referring to you-all.
Testosterone is the most dangerous substance on the planet. There’s a reason that tomcats are neutered and non-breeding stallions are gelded.
Your bias is showing and appears ingrained in your thought process. From castration of male mammals to your assessment of male hormones you are a sad person.
“We are life-givers; men are life-takers.” Really? You know nothing about military operations. The best snipers in Russia during the Great Patriotic War were female for example Lyudmila Pavlichenko with 309 confirmed kills. Today the best snipers in Syria are females.
Idiot. I’m a lifelong horsewoman and I wouldn’t ride a stallion on a bet, as most riders with half a brain would not. Why don’t you post a video of yourself astride a stallion? ( I need to see its balls).
And go ahead and keep a tomcat in your home, if you want it spray-marking everything you own and risking serious injury fighting with other cats.
You’re bona-fide brainless.
Right. And you thought she meant literally every female on the planet.
Male here and you couldn’t be more spot on. And thank you for not thinking we are all like the resident racist.
Let me guess: you live in a cramped apartment in a filthy city.
I’m sorry my life is so much more pleasant than yours.
Sad little creature that began the thread with your hatred of America.
Inventing a fantasy about a rural life and equestrian sports does not make it so. Whatever you need to do to justify your sad existence and cramped ghetto life should get you through your day!
You know what they say about assuming things about people you don’t know. “It makes.. you look like a dickhead”
“PS Let me guess; you’re a white male?”
Very white. The color of sheets maybe.
Bleached ones, Wars! 😉 With all the privileges that went with BEING a white male.
Back in the 70’s, it was perfectly acceptable for your (male) employer to play grab-ass with a female employee or back her into a corner to cop a feel. If you didn’t like it, you looked for another job.
The best employer I ever had back then, and by far the most respectful, was a Muslim gentleman from Pakistan.
China waited until Pelosi left Taiwan before threatening to cut Taiwan off. The mainland Chinese government might have problems with Taiwan, but were unwilling to stick the Taiwanese with Pelosi in case of a blockade. Disagreements aside, sticking the Taiwanese with Pelosi would have been going too far.
Good one. Plus, with her back here, they know she will continue to help destroy us from within. No wonder they didn’t off her.
Great point, Wars!
China shouldn’t be going to war with Taiwan.
It’s DC they need to go after.
Why keep threatening to invade Taiwan? It’s perfect time to make your move and we are already ready for bluff of annihilation with nuclear weapons.
Or it’s perfect time to replacement of this “Emperor” whom he is living in the past,you do not have a man with balls to kick him out! There will newer be a time this perfect to replace him.
One reality is that,China can not fight with rest of the world and that’s inconvenient truth.
South China Sea is free navigation to all the world,we in the west,we don’t care much for China,apart of cute Chinese ladies and cheap labour,but,cheap labour was a mistake.
So,nobody trust China with peaceful resolution as we seeing all in Hong Kong case,after take over by Chinese,Hong Kong supposed to be free next 50 years but,China failed on his written agreement,so Shi Jing ping have to go
Bluff or Nuclear annihilated,upside is population control.
Shi Jing ping,ping pong himself to corner.
Chinese deserved to be ruled much better than this ” Emperor.
Nuclear Britain, French,Americans, Europe,
Western civilization against the Chinese peasants and stolen technology from the west with reverse technology,and keep threatening west?
Even Communist China practices Mafia / emperor version of Gangster democracy.
Providing aid to Taiwan just means more money to the defense industry in America and more kickbacks to the Keptocrats in Congress to gorge the bloated net worth of House and Senate politicians.
Let’s not for get the Joey Biden crime family with Hunter getting a $500,000 for each painting and 10% for the senile old Big Guy!
This is the best exposition of the entire situation I’ve seen so far. A must view.
China’s Taiwan Military Option – How and Why?
Like Russia, China does not want war but it is being provoked and forced between a rock and a hard place.
Just like Russia would not allow NATO across the border, just to be fearing their next move, China will not allow Taiwan to declare independence, just to have a US base 100 miles from its shores. No different than having a Chinese base 100 miles from the US in Cuba.
Didn’t the CCP kick the original Chinese government to Taiwan? If so then it’s a little different than Ukraine. Ukraine for most of history has been with Russia while the Taiwan government was the original government and the CCP didn’t come into power until 1949. So why do they have the right to Taiwan? People like comparing scenarios and while similar, it’s actually a bit different at a closer glance
The headline is an exaggeration of what was actually said. To quote, “He additionally warned the simulation could be turned into a real war at any time. ‘We can say that we have the ability to switch the exercise into a real war at any point,’ he said.” That says “we can” not “we shall.” It is irresponsible to exaggerate in this way. The exercise remain an exercise.
If you read one single thing today, please make it Caitlin Johnstone’s piece on a Times article titled “Lady Gaga embodies everything China fears”.
It’s piss-yourself hysterical.
It’s difficult to believe that little Nancy upset the apple cart to such an extent, yet, that is certainly how it seems…
“I like Beijing in June, how about you?”…
Nancy should have kept her flaccid ass at home…