Taiwan wary that China could exploit US distraction over Middle East war

[littlemissmartypants]

Source: Reuters

TAIPEI, March 25 (Reuters) - Taiwan fears China will exploit the distraction of the United States by its war in the Middle East, with state media citing examples from the conflict to cast doubt on ​the efficiency of U.S. weapons the island would use to repel any invasion.

One of the world's biggest potential flashpoints, democratically governed Taiwan faces growing military pressure from China, which views ‌the island as its own territory, around which Beijing held its latest war games in December.

Taiwan officials say Beijing's resumption, since March 14 and 15, of large-scale air force incursions near Taiwan after an unusual drop-off, show China wants to take advantage of U.S. forces redeploying from East Asia to bolster the war effort.

"This is a moment for China to exercise influence," said a senior Taiwan security official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence matters.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/taiwan-wary-that-china-could-exploit-us-distraction-over-middle-east-war-2026-03-25/

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By Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee
March 25, 20264:03 AM EDTUpdated 12 mins ago

[twodogsbarking]

1. Me too.

[yaesu]

2. I don't think China wants to do anything in the near term, say, before the midterms

They are riding high on the fall of democracy here and taking advantage of our demise by building stronger economic ties with the West. If they were to try anything now it would send the world economy into a death spiral and trash all the hard work they put in building new alliances. If the medtrms actually happens and Dems win the House and Senate China may decide to strike before tRump gets the boot otherwise they will probably hold off until the US is totally irrelevant, IMHO.