Empire Still at Work

Responding to Gray Zone Conflict: Countering Russia in the Donbas and Beyond

By Barnett S. Kovenhttps://t.co/lJs3z8HoWT

— Small Wars Journal (@smallwars) June 7, 2021

What's going on in Taiwan? @kristina_wong from @BreitbartNews reports on #Taiwan's claims of @1st_SF_Command soldiers heading to train with their Taiwanese counterparts in the near future. @USASOCNews @CSIS_Threats @AllBeretsMatter https://t.co/GLyRoqNUth

— Irregular Warfare Initiative (@IrregWarfare) June 9, 2021

Taiwan Needs a New President

I don't believe she is capable of waging a defensive war against the CCP, even if it is the case that Taiwan couldn't hold out long regardless. After all, how many Taiwaness are willing to defend their freedom from control by the CCP? Most would be willing to surrender if the CCP could guarantee their livelihood.

A Taiwanese officer "bent out of shape" by my suggestion that Taiwan defend itself like serious small countries do, with an all-people defensive militia that greatly outnumbers the invaders. Unsurprised. They believe in prestige weapons, sharp uniforms & parade-ground drills. https://t.co/lldRnFtd0x

— Edward N Luttwak (@ELuttwak) April 5, 2021

NEW from Doug Bandow: The American people deserve to know what they might be expected to die for. Washington is filled with people who believe that being a superpower means never having to limit ambitions or fear the consequences of military interventions. https://t.co/io0wKU1E2Z

— The American Conservative (@amconmag) April 15, 2021

This Is a Result of Mediocracy

What was once known as "affirmative action."

My first piece for @YoungVoicesOrg is at @RStatecraft: The best course for Biden is to help Taiwan help itself.
https://t.co/bEBzR8XyBg

— Nickie 戴丽 (@NickieDeahl) February 8, 2021

Industrial Ag, Chinese-Style

The world's largest hog farm has opened in China. https://t.co/CNbAQeZnpo

— Modern Farmer (@ModFarm) December 23, 2020

Meanwhile...

Paradoxically, the louder the U.S. becomes in defense of Taipei, the more China is apt to invade it. Chas Freeman: https://t.co/d7DhwNUrRu@resplinodell @Dalzell60 @JessLee_DC

— Responsible Statecraft (@RStatecraft) December 23, 2020

China News

#EXCLUSIVE｜Natan Sharansky with Jimmy Lai: Hong Kong, the world’s gambit

Joined by former Israeli DPM @NatanSharansky, @JimmyLaiApple goes live to discuss HK’s political situation and future with netizens.#LiveChatWithJimmy https://t.co/0LCCdfnEm6

— Apple Daily HK 蘋果日報 (@appledaily_hk) November 20, 2020

Whereas it looks like “stability and order” in authorities’ eyes https://t.co/Ze5Hz8YECH

— Xinqi Su 蘇昕琪 (@XinqiSu) November 20, 2020

The Ombudsman is being urged to probe the decision by #RTHK management to reopen an investigation into complaints about reporter Nabela Qoser. A former union official says the move could have wider implications, affecting all #HongKong civil servants. https://t.co/gPms1xOwr1 pic.twitter.com/Ezby8SJ0oP

— RTHK English News (@rthk_enews) November 20, 2020

#Taiwan says it will start work next week to build the first of eight new domestically-developed submarines. The first one is expected to enter service in late 2024. https://t.co/Gkbf1nEShu

— RTHK English News (@rthk_enews) November 20, 2020

Taiwanese Decline

"We are hoping that more #LGBT people in the military can bravely stand up, because our military is very open-minded. In matters of love, everyone will be treated equally,” said Army Lieutenant Chen Ying-hsuan on her wedding day. #Taiwan https://t.co/3zYlFVGjx7

— RTHK English News (@rthk_enews) October 30, 2020

More Arms for Taiwan

Trump Administration Approves $2.4 Billion Harpoon Missile Sale to #Taiwan#China sanctions Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Raytheon for sales approved by the administration last week https://t.co/eDa5C1B72M pic.twitter.com/uqvtSJQcGu

— Antiwar.com (@Antiwarcom) October 27, 2020

Bueller?

Is anyone in Rome paying attention?

Taiwan’s foreign ministry has responded to the renewal of the Sino-Vatican provisional agreement by highlighting the worsening religious freedom situation on the mainland. https://t.co/OnfytAgF4t

— Catholic News Agency (@cnalive) October 23, 2020

US-China-Taiwan

How Will the US Counter #China?
by Michael Klare @mklare1https://t.co/Ctd448ReyH pic.twitter.com/eytAm8smrE

— Antiwar.com (@Antiwarcom) October 21, 2020

State Department Approves $1.8 Billion Arms Sale to #Taiwan
Sale included three weapons packages https://t.co/HtIUDdzsrK pic.twitter.com/g4J2i5ills

— Antiwar.com (@Antiwarcom) October 22, 2020

A Set of Recommendations on Taiwan

Friends and colleagues Heer and Culver have a sane take on the TW issue that is sorely lacking in parts of DC and among some foreign policy experts like Richard Haass. https://t.co/QzpalyioJv

— Michael D. Swaine (@Dalzell60) October 11, 2020

Restoration of Official Diplomatic Ties with Taiwan?

Taiwan’s Opposition Party Calls for Official Ties With US
Annual US-Taiwan defense conference was held on Monday and Tuesday #Taiwan #Chinahttps://t.co/QeshuQ93Wz pic.twitter.com/MFb0IluZSW

— Antiwar.com (@Antiwarcom) October 7, 2020

The Future of US-China and US-Taiwan Relations?

The world is undergoing epochal change driven by transformations in East Asia, especially the rise of China as a major power. America’s strategy in East Asia must change to meet this moment.

Read @QuincyInst's principles for such a new strategy here: https://t.co/I3YtdUvvtg

1/5

— Rachel Esplin Odell (@resplinodell) October 6, 2020

The three-way tension between the U.S., China, and Taiwan is easily understood when we realize that each nation is simply pursuing its own interests. Foreign policy has to start with that understanding. https://t.co/E8Too9r3ZC

— The American Conservative (@amconmag) October 6, 2020

China and Taiwan

This is a superb essay by friend and colleague Culver, who definitely knows of what he writes. He is a former USG analyst w/ deep knowledge of the PLA. People should read and reflect on the impossibility of the US (or the region) “winning” a Taiwan war. https://t.co/FZJTigFiqy

— Michael D. Swaine (@Dalzell60) October 1, 2020

Inculturation in Taiwan

The Church of the Holy Trinity in Yanshui, Taiwan. pic.twitter.com/89aTbmvuBr

— Fʀ. A. J. Dᴀᴍᴀsᴜs Sᴄʜʀᴇɴᴋ (@frajds) August 16, 2020

I thought I had a post with thoughts on inculturating Christianity in China, referring to the Opus Dei center in Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Roman Catholic seminary.

I will have to see if I can find it later.

My thoughts haven't changed; while I appreciate the efforts to depict Christ and His Mother, etc. as ethnic Chinese in order to get the message of the Incarnation across and to make Christianity more acceptable to Chinese, I think in the long run it isn't such a good idea. Depicting Christ as a Jew, as the Byzantines typically do based on one received miraculous image or another, seems to be a better idea, and there is nothing wrong with having an iconographic tradition that is set like that (to some standards of realism) while maintaining other architectural and artistic features in the cultural traditions of another group.

Or Would the US Consider Giving Taiwan the Means to Defend Itself?

"Any conflict against China over Taiwan would result in American service men and women being killed, likely in large numbers. China’s military has been built over the past two decades specifically to deter the U.S. from attacking them." https://t.co/hGJsVYFNfs

— The American Conservative (@amconmag) July 27, 2020

A Formally Independent Taiwan Now

If the mainland government hopes to press the Holy See into accepting a “one China” policy as the price of “one Church in China,” the signs suggest it may work. https://t.co/dKb9siBpc8 via @cnalive

— Ed. Condon (@canonlawyered) July 24, 2020

How Seriously Does Taiwan Take Such Threats?

ZeroHedge: Top China General Says Attack On Taiwan An Option If No Other Way To Stop Independence

President Tsai in Causeaway Bay Bookstore in Taipei

A Contrast with Carrie Lam

in ideals and governance only. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen 蔡英文 still has the appearance and demeanor of an older Chinese (or in this case Taiwanese) woman, like Carrie Lam. It appears that those who backed Taiwan independence were right all along, though it is not obvious that they will be able to defend themselves from China. A nuclear attack sub or two, or some missiles with warheads would be useful, but receiving any from the US may be judged to be too provocative and leading to instant war. An announcement after the fact on the other hand...

She is the first unmarried president of Taiwan. Understandable?











The singing at the beginning of the second part of the ceremony reminded me of the PLA and patriotic music that is sung over on the Mainland. Two different sort of "modern" Chinese cultures, heavily influenced by the West. Very little recovery of anything "traditional" in the pomp surrounding the two governments, except maybe the authoritarian mindset.

I Like That She's Anti-CCP

But the first photo is ridiculous and undermines, not bolsters, claims about the possibility of fempowerment and egquality.

As @ChingteLai & I prepared to take the oath of office, I reflected on the responsibilities of my second term & the urgency of our mission. I am more determined than ever to fulfill that mission, & lead #Taiwan on the path to greater democracy, prosperity, peace & security. pic.twitter.com/6jUE1jasYD

— 蔡英文 Tsai Ing-wen (@iingwen) May 20, 2020