by WorldTribune Staff, October 14, 2019 Chinese supreme leader Xi Jinping issued a stark warning when it comes to “territorial integrity,” one of the communist state’s “core interests.” “Anyone who attempts to split any region from China will perish, with their bodies smashed and bones ground to powder,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry quoted Xi as […]
by WorldTribune Staff, September 30, 2019 Those who believe in Communist China’s “one country, two systems” framework for Hong Kong, Macau and even Taiwan are either spies for the communists or merely naïve, a Hong Kong pro-democracy activist said. Andy Chan Ho-tin used the term “Chinazi” to describe China and urged Taiwan to side with […]
FPI / September 5, 2019 By Richard Fisher, Geostrategy-Direct.com TAIPEI — During a meeting here on Aug. 26, a source close to the leadership of the government of Taiwan told Geostrategy-Direct of fears that a violent Chinese government crackdown on months-long protests in Hong Kong could also lead to a Chinese decision to attack Taiwan. […]
FPI / August 23, 2019 By Richard Fisher, Geostrategy-Direct.com On Aug. 15, the Trump administration informally told the U.S. Congress that it had approved the $8 billion sale of Lockheed-Martin F-16V fighters to Taiwan, that now requires Congressional approval to proceed. Taiwan has been seeking upgraded and more capable F-16s since 1997, in the wake […]
by WorldTribune Staff, August 19, 2019 China has warned Taiwan against interfering in its affairs after the Taiwanese government offered asylum to pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong. Taiwan is a self-ruled island which China considers its own territory under its “One China Principle”. Taiwan’s offer would “cover up the crimes of a small group of […]
FPI / August 2, 2019 Geostrategy-Direct.com In the first defense white paper it has released in several years, China identifies the United States as its main adversary, warns that it is set to use military force against Taiwan and says that developing space weapons is among its vital strategic interests. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) […]
Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk TOKYO ― Korean and Japanese relations have plunged to their lowest depths since the Korean War, and there’s apparently no reconciliation in sight. The governments in Seoul and Tokyo are engaged in a game of dare and double-dare in which each tries to out-threaten the other with hurtful measures […]
FPI / July 12, 2019 Geostrategy-Direct.com By Richard Fisher As part of a $2 billion weapons sales package, the U.S. Congress has been notified about the sale to Taiwan of 108 General Dynamics M1A2 “Abrams” main battle tanks. In service with the U.S. Army since 1980, the M1A2 is the latest version, armed with a […]
Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — In an annual process of diplomatic musical chairs the 193 member UN General Assembly has picked five countries to serve on the Security Council as non-permanent members. Estonia, Niger, Tunisia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Vietnam were elected to two-year terms on the powerful […]
Special to WorldTribune.com By Richard Fisher, Geostrategy-Direct For the first time since 2011, two Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) Shenyang J-11 fighters crossed the Mid-Line of the Taiwan Strait near the Penghu Islands on March 31, 2019. The incursion prompted Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on April 1 to state on her Facebook page […]