Though China threatened an invasion of Taiwan many times, such a move would be completely impossible. Let’s see why.
If there is one thing the United States have proven to be good at, it’s fighting a two-front war. Their industrial capabilities are so immense that allowed them to win over both Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan in World War II. Now, being the world’s last remaining hegemon, they are trying to do the same.
The United States approved on Thursday the sale of F-16 jets to Taiwan for $619 million. Taiwan is an island off the coasts of China, or rather the People’s Republic of China.
I must specify it because on Taiwan “another” China exists, officially called Republic of China, which lays claims all over the mainland. Vice-versa, mainland China lays claim over the island of Taiwan.
The “two Chinas” have existed since 1949, when the Chinese civil war saw the loss of the Nationalists and their flee to Taiwan. The other side, the Communists led by Mao Tse-Tung, did not have the capabilities for a naval invasion of the island, and so they left it there.
Since then, the “two Chinas” followed completely separate paths. Taiwan slowly progressed to a liberal democracy closely allied with the United States. Mainland China, on the other hand, became a Communist autocracy that is currently trying to challenge American authority.
But China always knew there was only one path towards superpower status. And that was conquering the island of Taiwan, ending the Chinese civil war once and for all.
An impossible invasion
Though mainland China experienced the fastest growth in history, becoming the world’s second largest economy, an invasion of Taiwan is still out of the question.
First of all, Taiwan would obviously be supported by the world’s best military: the United States. These constant sales of equipment, which today saw the sale of incredibly expensive fighter jets, are proof that Washington is willing to protect Taiwan at all costs.
US president Joe Biden also promised out loud American protection of Taiwan in case of a Chinese invasion. To conquer Taiwan, therefore, Beijing would have to conduct a naval invasion (the hardest kind of invasion) to then face the world’s best army.
Further, an invasion of Taiwan would entail the loss of crucial microchips for China. Taiwan produced 92% of the global supply of microchips, which power every modern electronic device including military equipment.
Without microchips, the Chinese economy would face a collapse, and Beijing knows it.
This is why an invasion of Taiwan would be extremely hard to win, if not completely impossible.
But to make sure of it, the United States will keep supporting Taiwan with military equipment. Yes, they are also supporting Ukraine against Russia, but as we said at the beginning they are perfectly capable of aiding both countries at the same time.
