Page 18 - MEOG Week 49

MEOG GUEST COMMENT MEOG

Persuade, invade,

blockade?: Beijing’s best

strategy to reunify Taiwan

GUEST COMMENT A few months ago a poll of Taiwanese voters unstoppable force towards an immovable
revealed that popular desire for independence object has turned the spotlight onto the military
from China is hardening: 54% of respondents options open to Beijing – options anticipated
wanted early independence, while only 12.5% and authorised by Article 8 of China’s 2005
wanted unification with Beijing. Anti-Secession Law, which states that if Taiwan
Hardening attitudes in Taiwan reflect hard- will not unify peacefully it must (the Law says
ening attitudes in Beijing, where President Xi “shall”, not “may”) be unified by force of arms.
(actually Chairman Xi, but let’s skip that detail)
has unequivocally and repeatedly declared his Taiwan lives entirely on imported energy,
intention to achieve unification, probably before importing 1mn barrels per day of oil and 2bn
he retires, whenever that might be. cubic metres of gas per month. War with China
The approach of what looks like an would be a disaster.™

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P18 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 49 09•December•2020