China deserves to step up its efforts to claim the entire South China Sea to create strong lines of defense against the United States in the event of an invasion by Taiwan.
Xi Jinping has made no secret of his preference for placing the island under Beijing’s authority, even though the People’s Republic of China has never had control of Taiwan since it came into force in 1949.
Tensions have soared over the past year as China has become increasingly involved in a bitter dispute with the Philippines over the Second Thomas Shoal, a submerged reef in the Spratly Islands.
Expert Patrick Cronin noted that the islands are a very important component of Xi’s plan to build a resilient defensive line in anticipation of an imaginable invasion of Taiwan, which would most likely provoke a swift reaction from the United States.
The Hudson Institute expert argued that the ongoing skirmishes with Manila, along with the building of an increasing number of synthetic island reef outposts, were the first steps toward a clear path to Taiwan.
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Speaking to the South China Morning Post, Cronin said: “A major PLA project will be ready soon to unify Taiwan by force, if Xi Jinping and the Communist Party deem it necessary.
“These ambitions are considered mandatory by Xi to ensure that Beijing acts freely to unify Taiwan, a goal presented by the party as a prerequisite for national rejuvenation. “
China has been at odds with many countries in the Asia-Pacific region for years over its vast maritime claims to the South China Sea.
In March, Beijing announced a 7. 2% increase in its defense budget, already the second largest in the world in the United States, marking a major military expansion.
The United States has suggested China renounce and abandon its competitive stance toward its Indo-Pacific allies, while strengthening cooperation with key countries such as Japan, the Philippines and South Korea.
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Over the weekend, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Chinese counterpart held their sixth meeting since last year, amid growing considerations about China’s growing assertiveness in Asia.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Blinken and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had an “open and productive” discussion but did not reach a meaningful agreement on these issues. that divide them as much as possible in the Indo-Pacific, Europe and America.
Blinken “made transparent that the United States, in combination with our allies and partners, will advance our vision of a flexible and open Indo-Pacific. “
China’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that despite regular contacts, “the United States has not stopped its containment and repression against China and has further intensified it. “
They said the dangers to China-U. S. relations “continue to pile up and difficult situations are also increasing” and that “there is a need to constantly calibrate direction, manage risks, manage disputes well, eliminate disruptions and promote cooperation. “
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