Mounting tensions between the US and China are once again centering on the island of Taiwan, where China says the US is “playing with fire” after a recent visit by a cabinet-level official for the first time in over a generation.
US Health Secretary Alex Azar was visiting for Covid-19 talks, which would’ve been pretty easy to understand. China saw Azar’s visit to a shrine to Chiang Kai-Shek, however, as a much bigger issue.
Though the US doesn’t formally recognize Taiwan, it does sell them arms. To that end, Taiwan says they are interested in buying some sea mines and cruise missiles for coastal defense. Such sales almost always lead to Chinese threats, which lead to more interest in US arms.
All of this Taiwan tension usually happens in the background, but US-China tensions are getting so bad that almost everything is happening out in the open.
Did Azhar go to Taiwan to offer F15s to fight the coronavirus.
Coming soon…aid package to Taiwan (US tax dollars, or invented money) so they can “buy” US arms.
That visit to the Chiang Kai -Shek Memorial wouldn’t have been welcomed by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) that rules Taiwan. They are trying to erase all vestiges that Taiwan and China are one, and any patronage to Chiang or the Kuomintang would not be welcomed by Taiwan’s radical leftist party in power.