Regional Tensions

“Anti-War Working Group” Reproduces US-Centrism of Western Left, Fails to Consider Multipolar World

Brian Hioe
A recent press conference held by a number of senior left-wing scholars, calling for an “anti-war” stance for Taiwan, proved an exercise in not only naivete about China but profound US-centrism–that is, a preoccupation with the US and western powers and failure to see the world outside of a Euro-American framework...
EnglishInternationalMarch 2023Regional Tensions10 min read

US Navy Admiral Provokes Alarm with Comments Suggesting Close Timeline for Chinese Invasion

Brian Hioe
Admiral Michael Gilday, who heads US naval operations, recently raised eyebrows with comments at an Atlantic Council event suggesting that China’s timeline for an invasion of Taiwan could be shorter than the 2027 window previously suggested by now-retired Admiral Philip Davidson, who made comments suggesting that China might try to invade Taiwan in the next six years last year...
EnglishInternationalOctober 2022Regional Tensions6 min read

Tankie Forum on Taiwan Justifies White Terror, Indigenous Genocide, and Praises Henry Kissinger

Brian Hioe
The recent online webinar organized by Friends of Socialist China, “China encirclement and the imperialist build-up in the Pacific” proved another occasion for tankies to speak in hyperbolic terms about the possibility of US-China conflict over Taiwan. As usual, there was scarcely any concern about what Taiwanese think about their own future, or even what their assessment of any geopolitical threats they face from China is–and whether they think a conflict is imminent. On the other hand, speakers generally seemed to care more about ancient Chinese history than they did about the perspectives of contemporary Taiwanese. And, for the most part, there was actually very little discussion of Taiwan during the event...
EnglishInternationalOctober 2022Regional Tensions13 min read

Biden Comments on Taiwan Commitment Again Walked Back, but Likely to Be Interpreted as of Greater Significance

Brian Hioe
Earlier today, US president Joe Biden confused again with comments on CBS’ “60 Minutes” that suggested US commitment to defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack. Subsequently, as with previous such incidents in which Biden indicated US commitment to defend Taiwan, these comments were quickly walked back by the White House, which stated that US policy on Taiwan had not changed...
EnglishInternationalPoliticsRegional TensionsSeptember 20227 min read