One war game simulation suggested the conflict would be swift — and ended with a troubling omen for Taiwan.
"Taiwan was toast," Alexander C. Huang, an international relations director for Taiwan's KMT political party, told The New York Times' Nicholas Kristof .
KMT, or Kuomintang, is Taiwan's main opposition party that opposes the island country's independence.
Huang told Kristof that the simulation was intended to last three hours but ended in just two without shots being fired.
According to Kristof, in the game, Taiwan couldn't meet the hypothetical demands China and America would make in the simulation, such as a timeline for a unification — in which China and Taiwan are consolidated — and pressure from the US to spend more on Taiwan's military.
War games are conducted as part of an exercise to think out potential scenarios and strategies in case of a conflict, but the results should not be taken as guaranteed.
Donald Trump's unpredictability also has some political experts and analysts concerned about what a second Trump term could mean for China-Taiwan relations.
"Trump is completely unreliable as an ally or an opponent" for China, Stanley Rosen, professor of political science and international relations at the University of Southern California's US-China Institute, previously told Business Insider .
In interviews, Trump has repeatedly refused to explicitly say if he would come to Taiwan's defense if China invaded.
"Trump is very popular in Taiwan and Hong Kong because they think he talks tough and is tough," Rosen said. "But he doesn't follow through."
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Comments / 0