Taiwanese president Lai Ching Te says he hopes to have healthy and orderly exchanges with Beijing

Summary

Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated in his New Year’s speech that Taiwan’s “reunification” with China is inevitable.

China has escalated military activity around Taiwan, including frequent incursions near the island and sanctions on U.S.-linked companies over arms sales to Taipei.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te rejected Beijing’s claims, stating Taiwan’s future can only be decided by its people.

Lai also criticized China’s restrictions on travel and education exchanges with Taiwan, calling for dignified, reciprocal relations based on goodwill and equality.

  • kittenzrulz123English
    6·
    4 days ago

    Theres a single dam in China which is extremely vulnerable, if hit by a rocket the majority of Chinas food supply would be destroyed.

    • Tinidril@midwest.socialEnglish
      8·
      4 days ago

      That’s about as likely as America performing a preemptive nuclear strike on China. The international “fallout” would be pretty much the same.

      • Maggoty@lemmy.worldEnglish
        4·
        3 days ago

        The Taiwanese know of it’s existence too, and have the capability to hit it. Furthermore we currently have a president who views war crimes as going above and beyond instead of criminal behavior. I would not bet against someone blowing it up.

        • Tinidril@midwest.socialEnglish
          2·
          3 days ago

          I have no doubt that Trump is capable of giving the order. As it stands, there is no way the order is obeyed. Trump will of course start trying to install loyalists in military leadership, but I doubt even the generals could successfully get such an order obeyed today. The entire military culture would need to be replaced, and I think the protections against that will require more time than Trump has to do it.

          Thankfully, incompetence is a core trait of fascism, and I don’t think Trump or his people have the juice.

          • Maggoty@lemmy.worldEnglish
            1·
            3 days ago

            Hitting that dam is a lot harder to disobey as an illegal order than violating Posse Comitatus. Especially if we’re on the brink of nuclear war that would create massive civilian casualties anyways. We expect a big pushback if Trump tries to deploy the military domestically. Going to war is another matter entirely.

      • Mubelotix@jlai.luEnglish
        2·
        3 days ago

        It’s not the same at all. Ok the US would get blamed, but they wouldn’t be fired at back with nuclear weapons