Taiwan May Be Racing Toward A Disastrous Proxy War

Fears are mounting that Taiwan could become the springboard for another proxy war that would drag the U.S. into a more protracted conflict than currently faced in Eastern Europe.

China’s breakneck military buildup coincided with its increased aggression across the Taiwan Strait. With Washington’s pledge to support the breakaway island nation, a collision course appears to be set.

However, many believe that the result would be a monumental failure for both the U.S. military and foreign policy.

The U.S. continues to aim for influence to counter Beijing in the Indo-Pacific region as part of its global dominance. But for Chinese President Xi Jingping, the time for action on Taiwan may be swiftly approaching.

Taiwan is a beacon for democratic and capitalistic ideals. It exists as a counter to the mainland’s autocratic and dictatorial regime that suppressed human rights and seeks control over the region. 

And the U.S. continues to wade deeper into the conflict.

The Biden administration in recent days approved a new $500 million arms sale to Taiwan. This continued a recent trend toward arming the island against possible Chinese aggression. 

Despite not being a particularly large package, especially considering the generosity shown to Ukraine, Beijing will predictably react with hostility toward the military sale. After all, Taiwan has but one enemy to sharpen its swords against.

The most attractive outcome of the current tension involving Taiwan, China and the U.S. is to maintain the status quo minus overt Chinese aggression. But with China’s growing internal issues, that may prove impossible.

The possibility also exists for a peaceful reunification in the way that Hong Kong was absorbed back into China. The implications for Taiwan’s democracy are not good, however, and Hong Kong is a shining example of the oppression that may extend from the mainland.

What needs to be avoided is a direct conflict between the U.S. and China over Taiwan, followed closely by a protracted proxy war between the two nuclear powers.

The U.S., despite multiple misstatements from President Joe Biden, keeps a decidedly ambiguous position on tensions in the Taiwan Strait. Overt military action by China could change that and plunge the region into a deadly proxy war with much wider implications.

That would be to no one’s benefit and possibly lead to World War III.