We look at whether Xi Jinping was framed for “Balloongate” from opposition voices within the Chinese Communist Party to derail U.S.-China relations. As U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken denounced Beijing and asked it to bear responsibility for violating U.S. airspace, Xi Jinping will be visiting Russia, the West’s top adversary. Yet Chinese spy balloons are no surprise to those around Taiwan. PLA balloons have regularly crossed into Taiwan’s airspace in the past several years.
In this episode, Leonard Chao, National Tsing Hua University Adjunct Professor, former Taiwan Ambassador to Eswatini and Political Division Director at the Representative Office in the U.S., and Raymond Sung, Taiwan New Constitution Foundation Deputy CEO and international legal expert, discuss how the nation is tackling intensifying Chinese aggression and working with the U.S. and its allies on deterring a potential attack and what the U.S.-Japan-Philippine Trilateral Defense Pact could mean for Taiwan.
We also hear from Wang Ting-yu, Legislator and Defense and Foreign and National Defense Committee Chair on the key role an anti-tank mine-laying Volcano system can play in making China think twice before attacking. John Fowler, Arizona State University and Project 2049 Semiconductor Research Fellow, also shares how the U.S. and Taiwan can work together to win the tech war with China as the U.S. sanctions 6 more Chinese companies with ties to the CCP.
Topics discussed:
- Stronger Chinese Response: Will the U.S. shootdowns of alleged Chinese spy balloons trigger more PLA aggression?
- Military intelligence: Will the balloon remains be useful for the U.S. and its allies in understanding PLA capabilities?
- Balloon symbolism: Do Chinese balloons over U.S. and Taiwan airspace reflect Xi Jinping’s expansionist ambitions?
- Shooting spree: Has Biden gone on mission to shoot down foreign objects passing into U.S. airspace as a show of force to the U.S. public?
- Impact on Taiwan: What does the U.S.-China showdown mean for the island nation’s defenses?
- Wake-up call for democratic nations: Is the world now taking Chinese military ambitions more seriously?
- Volcano defense systems: What does it take for Taiwan to secure its shores in the case of a PLA sea maneuver?
- Tech war: How the U.S. is working with Taiwan to win the battle with China
- U.S. China Select Committee: How the delegation to Taipei will boost support for Taiwan’s defense
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