On April 3, around 8a.m. local time, Taiwan was rocked by a 7.4 magnitude earthquake, the strongest quake to hit the island in 25 years. The earthquake which struck just offshore the rural county of Hualien, according to Reuters, triggered landslides and more than 50 aftershocks.
Read MoreDespite efforts of China to silence the DPP, Lai Ching-te emerged victorious. However, this success is not without its impending challenges
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Now instead of calling for an independence movement, Lai has adopted the more nuanced view that Taiwan does not need to declare independence in order to be its own democratic state, according to The New York Times.
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On Monday, April 10, after three days of recurring military exercises near Taiwan, the Chinese government implied that it was “ready to fight” and could be pushed to begin engaging in active, armed conflict
Read MoreConsidering the strategic and symbolic significance of Taiwan to the People’s Republic of China, several experts have argued that China’s invasion of the island is a matter of when and not if. Many have questioned Chinese President Xi Jinping’s decision to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, given that Russia’s actions are in direct contradiction to China’s century-long foreign policy tenet of non-interference.
Read MoreTaiwan’s defense minister, former Taiwanese general Chiu Kuo-cheng, made headlines recently when he stood before the Legislature Yuan and predicted that China would launch a full-scale invasion of Taiwan by 2025. According to ABC News, the Chinese government in the past few weeks has sent more than 150 military aircraft to fly through Taiwan’s air defense zone in an attempt at intimidation.
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Ever since Taiwan separated itself from mainland China in 1949, relations between Beijing and Tapiei have been tenuous at best. At worst, the Taiwan Strait is a hotbed for diplomatic and military gridlock as Beijing and Taiwan vie for control of the region. On April 20, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army flew a squadron of 25 aircraft into Taiwan airspace, the South China Morning Post reports. While these exercises are not uncommon in the Taiwan Strait, the incursion comes at a time of great tension between China and the United States’ growing relationship with Taiwan.
Read MoreAn eight-car passenger train in Eastern Taiwan derailed on April 3, killing at least 50, including the train driver and a French citizen, and injuring hundreds. The Taitung-bound train was north of Hualien when it derailed in a tunnel, which caused further damage as the cars collided with the tunnel walls, reports CNN. Authorities confirmed they removed all the passengers from the wreckage, although some of the dead have yet to be identified.
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Recent Chinese military actions toward Taiwan and U.S. actions are raising concerns about a developing regional conflict ‒ and its implications on the rest of the world.
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In recent months, China has threatened Taiwan, increasing tensions and the risk of war. American involvement in the conflict raises serious concerns about the role the United States will play if tensions continue to escalate.
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