Taiwan

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Days after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi outraged China by suggesting a Chinese attack on Taiwan could mobilize a Tokyo military response, Xi spent half of an hourlong phone call with Trump, people briefed on the matter said, hammering home China’s historic claim to the democratic self-governing island as well as Washington and Beijing’s joint responsibility to manage the world order.

Later the same day, Trump set up a call with Takaichi and advised her not to provoke Beijing on the question of Taiwan’s sovereignty, said Japanese officials and an American briefed on the call. The advice from Trump was subtle, and he didn’t pressure Takaichi to walk back her comments, those briefed on the calls said.

The Japanese officials said the message was worrying: The president didn’t want friction over Taiwan to endanger a detente reached last month with Xi, which includes a promise to buy more agricultural products from American farmers hit hard by the trade war.

Asked about the exchange with Takaichi, the White House issued a statement from Trump to The Wall Street Journal: “The United States relationship with China is very good, and that’s also very good for Japan, who is our dear and close ally. Getting along with China is a great thing for China and the U.S. In my opinion, President Xi will be substantially upping his purchase of soybean and other farm products, and anything good for our farmers is good for me.”

Quote: DRich

I still think China is more likely to take territory from Russia before Taiwan. Let's face it, Taiwan doesn't really give China anything that they really need. China needs oil, gas, and water. The Southeast border of Russia offers China all those things and is already populated by a huge number of Chinese. Russia is also currently very weak and vulnerable. It would be a smart move for China to move on Russia soon. On the other hand, they could offer to buy the land from Russia who might be willing to sell it. The problem with that scenario is that China is financially struggling too,

Quote: SOOPOO

Wouldn’t it be a smarter move never to ‘move on Russia?’ That the negatives of a war with Russia FAR outweigh any possible benefits?

Quote: DRich

I don't necessarily agree with that. Unless nuclear weapons are used China would probably beat Russia in a conventional war. Currently Russia is so weak as they have exhausted the majority of their conventional war weapons. Some believe China will collapse back to where they were 50 years ago unless they can secure energy sources.

Quote: GenoDRPh

The Russians have made it crystal clear that any Chinese cross-border incursion, no matter how small, will result in nukes starting to fly. No questions asked, No attempts to repel an invasion and no attempts at diplomacy. Sword of Damocles.

Quote: DRich

Do you believe everything they say? The Ukraine war has displayed how much credence you can put in what the Russians say. If we give F-16's to Ukraine nukes may be used. If we give long range missiles nukes may be used. If Ukraine attacks Russian territory nukes may be used..

Russia is so weak right now. Besides, China has nukes too. Believe it or not, Russia does not want a nuclear war, they just want to threaten one because they know people get scared by the threat and will more likely negotiate.

Do you realize there are more Mandarin speaking people in areas of the Russian east than there are Russian speakers? Russia states that they want Ukraine back because it was part of Russia, areas of East Russia used to be Chinese. I really believe over the next 25 years parts of East Russia will be acquired by the Chinese.