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Right from the Middle: America must stand up to China and defend Taiwan
By William O. Lipinski
How do we handle the challenge presented by the recent visit of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Taiwan and China?
In a previous column [of May26th] I presented what I believed to be a very formidable defense Taiwan now possesses to repel an attack by the Peoples’ Liberation Army (PLA) and the Chinese Navy.
I still believe an attack by China against Taiwan would be so militarily herculean and so financially outrageously expensive, it will deter Communist China from attacking.
And if we, our Land of Liberty and Fortress of Freedom, join in the defense of Taiwan, I believe Taiwan becomes impregnable.
First, we place hundreds of missile launchers, armed drones, electronic jammers. sensors at sea on Allied territory near the Taiwan straits.
Then we move our nuclear powered submarines into the straits and sail our missile-magnet air craft carriers into the region, there-by creating a high tech minefield that would be a deathtrap for the PLA and China’s Navy.
This does not factor in Japan’s participation in the defense of Taiwan and I strongly believe they would.
Besides the many military hurdles China would have to overcome to take over Taiwan, China is facing a number of domestic problems they have never faced in the past.
Let me list a few of their domestic challenges.
China’s economy is growing too fast, and the Communist party is well aware of it. The country’s leaders have promised to cool things down, but it is not clear what they can do.
China’s central bank may raise interest rates for the first time in ten years.
The nation’s leaders are trying to slow investments, prices, and lending. But in a centrally controlled capitalism the banking system and thousands of state-owned firms do not respond much to pricing signals or interest rate.
Privately owned businesses respond even less to government influence, unless they are threatened with government takeover.
Another domestic challenge are the mortgage strikes occurring throughout China. The Chinese people have made down-payments and mortgage payments for years on homes that are half finished, never been started and are not occupied.
These “hopeful” home owners’ patience have worn out.
They have angrily attacked the Chinese banks demanding their payments be returned until the homes are completed and they can move into them. The government was forced to turn back these mobs by using violence.
This was another sign of unrest among the Chinese people concerning the property market and the banking system.
China’s total lockdown on Covid has very seriously strained the relationship between the government and the people.
These and other domestic problems for the first time have lead the people of China to question their economic and political system, and obviously their political leadership.
Because of all of these factors, I do not believe an attacked by China on Taiwan is in our near future.
Hopefully our government will focus more on our problems in Asia, then they have been doing. It’s a very dangerous world and we must be united to deal with it, especially if we can put our domestic challenges aside and work together for everyone’s benefit.
Remember, there has never been a country that had a capitalistic economy, and a totalitarian Government that succeeded for very long.
China has made it work for a number of years, but now that incongruous system is beginning to come apart.
Despite China’s politics, this axiom is true: the more affluent people become, the more they want freedom and the ability to control their own lives.
(Read Bill Lipinski’s columns by visiting www.BillLipinski.com.)
Lipinski writes the "Right from the Middle" Column twice each month.
Born in Chicago, Cook County, Ill and graduated fromSt. Patrick High School, Chicago, Ill., 1956; attended Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa, 1956-1957; United States Army Reserves, 1961-1967.
Lipinski was elected alderman, Chicago, Ill., city council, 1975-1982; He was a delegate to: the Democratic National Midterm Convention, 1974; Democratic National Convention, 1976 and 1984; Illinois state Democratic convention, 1977.
He was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-eighth and to the ten succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1983-January 3, 2005)
His email is [email protected]
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