Taiwan reported today that the Chinese aircraft carrier sailed into the Taiwanese air defense zone. This is an area which the Taiwanese government has declared to be a defensive perimeter around the island nation. Since Taiwan and China have been officially at war since the end of World War II, this is a provocative move by the Chinese government which considers Taiwan to be a breakaway province of China.
Were China to attack Taiwan, the USA is likely to come to the defense of the Taiwanese. In many ways, the voyage of the Chinese carrier is similar to the ones made by American ships and planes through the zones declared by China in the South China Sea. Both are meant to show disdain for the claims of sovereignty of the nation establishing the zone. Of course, the Chinese zones in the South China Sea have already been declared illegal and invalid by the international court in the Hague. China does not accept that decision, however.
On the other hand, this move by the Chinese may be their response to the American pressure to do something about North Korea. This may be China's way of telling the Trump administration to back off or there could be problems in many places all at once, not just with North Korea.
In many ways, these kinds of moves by China are the result of eight years of failure by the USA to assert its national interests. China is not going to just accept American power without a struggle.
Were China to attack Taiwan, the USA is likely to come to the defense of the Taiwanese. In many ways, the voyage of the Chinese carrier is similar to the ones made by American ships and planes through the zones declared by China in the South China Sea. Both are meant to show disdain for the claims of sovereignty of the nation establishing the zone. Of course, the Chinese zones in the South China Sea have already been declared illegal and invalid by the international court in the Hague. China does not accept that decision, however.
On the other hand, this move by the Chinese may be their response to the American pressure to do something about North Korea. This may be China's way of telling the Trump administration to back off or there could be problems in many places all at once, not just with North Korea.
In many ways, these kinds of moves by China are the result of eight years of failure by the USA to assert its national interests. China is not going to just accept American power without a struggle.
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