Stories
Taiwan Attacks Chinese Ship, Trump's Calculations Fail, War Clouds Gather in Strait
- •The Taiwan Strait sees renewed tensions as Taiwan repels a Chinese vessel, stunning Beijing.
- •A Chinese boat encroaching on Taiwan's maritime boundary was attacked with water cannons by the Taiwan Coast Guard.
- •Taiwan's strong response to China's 'gray-zone tactics' disproved China's assessment of Taiwan's readiness.
- •Donald Trump's strategy of withholding a $14 billion arms deal as a 'negotiating chip' with China has been proven wrong.
- •Taiwan's domestic politics are divided between the pro-Beijing KMT and the sovereignty-advocating DPP, with the 2028 election being crucial.
Key Questions Answered
After the Chinese fishing boat illegally entered Taiwan's waters and ignored repeated loudspeaker warnings, the Taiwan Coast Guard attacked it with a high-pressure water cannon. The powerful spray rattled the boat's structure and forced the crew to turn around and flee.
Donald Trump had stalled a $14 billion arms deal to use as a negotiating chip with China and assumed there would be no war. However, Taiwan's aggressive defensive action at sea proved that it will not wait for an American green light to protect its security.
US intelligence believes China will not launch a military attack before 2028 due to internal military turmoil following Xi Jinping's removal of top commanders and ministers, and Beijing's hope that a pro-China party will win the 2028 Taiwan presidential elections.
