Taiwan, is it worth fighting for?
China sees them as part of China. They do not. Will WW3 come from it?
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Hey everyone we are into the dog days of summer and I am hopeful that cooler days are just over the horizon. Not to toot my own horn but remember when I told you months ago that the Ukraine Russia war would turn into a slog. Well it has and now let’s talk about the China Taiwan situation.
We gift wrapped some fun for President Xi. The aftermath to Speaker Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan triggered live fire exercises. This in turn will now allow the CCP to feel out Taiwan’s defenses even more than they already know. In the last couple of days nearly 100 military ships have surrounded Taiwan and slowed or detained maritime transportation. Plus Speaker Pelosi’s trip has allowed China to exit the Green Climate Club. Most of us know they were not participating in it in any way already. In the end we strengthen Xi and weaken our own position in this geo-political storm.
Truly, are you scared of China now? Well a large ocean separates us and leads to a large blocking point for either country to enter a war in the other's global hemisphere. While both countries rattled the sabers this week, I find it highly unlikely that we will go to war against each other. Oh, it is likely that China will either blockade and force Taiwan into its fold. Or, and this is my hope, that diplomatically behind the scenes both will come to terms saving countless lives. No matter though China will become the One China they want. And yes, if they have to go in militarily, they will. Question is how long do they wait, and what will the United States do if anything?
Here are some other reasons we will not wade into a big war with China. Firstly, how would a major war bolster either country. What do either really gain? Each is glued at the hip financially to the other. Failure of one, leads to failure of the other. Plus the world would be thrown into total depression and chaos by these 2 nations squaring off. That might be the most important of those ties currently.
Still, night after night the war hawks are out as I listen to pundit after pundit tell us to get ready for the big one. They say China just needs to cross a 100 mile ocean and WW3 will start. But, so many factors lean towards very little confrontation between the world's 2 major super-powers.
Economically, do you realize how much we the U.S. are beholden to China? Antibiotics. Well over 90% of our antibiotics in this country come from, yep, China. Some of our manufacturers get 100% of the ingredients for their needs from China. If the U.S. were unable to obtain timely supplies of needed antibiotics for a short or extended period, the consequences could be catastrophic. The CCP already knows that the U.S. is acutely vulnerable to antibiotic shortages. China has managed to dominate all aspects of the supply chain using the same unfair trade practices that it has used to dominate plenty of other sectors that we here in the United States count on.
How about big companies like Nike or Apple? They get most of their labor and most of the materials for their shoes and phones from China. Many corporations do. Significantly lower prices are the draw for them. A good guess is that they couldn’t change operations to America without probably going bankrupt. Plenty in every industry from the Movies to the NBA seem to dream of the Chinese market and the 1.3 billion people buying their stuff. Greed is and will always be a big factor in the decision making process for many, many people.
Did you know we do billions of dollars in business purchasing fruits and vegetables both fresh and produced from China? Some of your favorite snack foods, spices, and teas come directly from China. The good news on this front is that we still get our vast amounts of food from inside our country.
Toys, games, plastics and so much more are sitting on your shelves at Walmart courtesy of the people of China. Same as the big companies, many of our small ones get cheaper products to sell you from our biggest rival. It’s not hard to see how this means we literally are being controlled. China has us, and inflation has us, but we can’t jump the ship now, despite an iceberg ahead. We would drown in our own economic misery.
Here are some of the actual numbers of what we import from China each year.
Vehicles: $108.9 billion much of which is in parts. Toys, games: $94 billion. Monopoly anyone? Optical, tech, medical apparatuses: $88.8 billion. Your crutches to your glasses. Plenty come from overseas from our rival.
Articles of iron or steel: $85.4 billion. Were we not the leaders in steel production just 40 years ago? Not any more. How about Knit or crochet items and accessories: $78.2 billion. Many Organic chemicals: $73 billion. And we are worried about Russia and Ukraine stopping fertilizer. China makes that look silly with what they could hold over our heads.
Let’s talk chips. Not the California Highway Patrol. Although maybe John and Ponch could help. Not potato chips either. The chips that run your phones, computers, cars, refrigerators and so much more. Guess who is cornering the market on that side of the ocean? Yes, today, 75% of chip production takes place in East Asia already. And 90% of the most advanced chips are made in Taiwan. China is doing everything it can to take over the global supply of digital chips to include taking Taiwan to control almost everything made in that market and supply chain.
I haven’t even touched on possibly the main factor ahead of all others. Wind and solar. The Green New Deal. The Democrats boondoggle is nearly all supplied, or made in the countryside of the CCP. What are the chances this administration gives that power grab up? War with the Communist Chinese Party would stop all of those dreams that our greenies have. Electric batteries, solar panels, and wind turbines which are already expensive enough, can not be made in the States economically. We would have to throw 10’s of trillions of dollars more at the problem to produce those products here. You betcha if a war were to break out you could double that. Politically Democrats can not give up on what they have staked the next 50-100 years of their power on. We would not only lose monetarily as a country, but Democrats would stop lining their pockets with green cash. As you know Democrat politicians and plenty of Republican ones also are able to do 2 things. Never confess they made a mistake and line their pockets with cold hard cash. So, stopping this train wreck is not in their mindset, ever.
All of these factors and many more give control of much of what you do, have, or need to the Chinese government. Maybe a buildup of troops in the Ukraine or another way for us to lose focus might just be the start to a war. One we will not enter because they have all of us in the palm of their hands. Just waiting for the appropriate time to slam it closed like a vice if they wish.
As I said at the beginning, China needs us too. We buy all that junk from them. Money, money, money makes their world go round also. If they cut the tether that we need they would fail on a scale comparable to what we would. Conservative numbers say we lose 10% of our GDP while they lose 20-25%. But, they have other options and buyers close to home. Either way it would lead to global economic consequences no one alive has ever seen. Both countries collapse from within, and many more counting on us do also. Every European country falters with most if not all of the rest of the world leading the way. Each domino falling in probably less than a year.
It sounds like Revelation from the Bible, and it just could be. So, my thoughts say both realize this outcome and do not want it. But China wants to reunify Taiwan with the mainland. How far are they willing to go? As far as they need to and they are betting that we will not fully commit to the protection of Taiwan, and I say they are right. Deep down we all know it, and they know it too. So, I believe they can push the limit nearly as far as they want. We will not respond in kind.
Unfortunately other countries in Asia see the potential for further harm to them as this escalates this year, or in the coming years. Just take a gander at other countries' media like the BBC or Skynews from Australia. We have become the laughing stock of the Globe right now. Despite what the mainstream media here tells you we are not looked upon kindly right now. Those countries know our leader is weak and that we are in a weak position thus putting them in a poor position. They are asking themselves, if they can not count on the U.S. for help, then who can they? So if you think we are the only ones with something at stake. You would be sadly mistaken.
Our word used to be our bond with other nations. They knew they could count on America. Now they pray as we do for smart minds in both countries to stay focused on not starting WW3. In the end we are anchored to Chinese fortunes as they are to ours and that may be the straw that holds us together instead of apart. In the end both may mutually try to keep the other at bay while keeping all economical options open. This has been brewing for decades and while we can say we saw this coming. It matters not to the peoples of the world who stops it. Just that somebody does.
As I always do. I will end with precautions. Take care of your family, then friends, then the neighbors. Get your bills in line. Be prepared if we do find ourselves in armageddon. But, the most important of all. Spiritually, it is time for you to take a leap of faith. Truly, why are you waiting? Now is the time to start or strengthen your walk with Jesus.
If you do not know Jesus I encourage you to open yourself up to the fulfilling words of our loving savior. If you, as many of us do, are struggling with how the world turns. Then you will find a place of quiet, peace, and comfort in Jesus.
Finding God is where you realize your needs will be quenched. Where you find out how your unique purpose can be fulfilled. If you repent of your sins and believe with your whole heart that he is our Lord and Savior. Then, he will give you strength when you are in desperate need of it. He will give you solace in knowing that you are loved. My friends, put your faith in Jesus, the great I AM, the only TRUTH, THE ONLY TRUTH, that will carry you through the troubles we endure!
See you next time….