Now on bbc news, its time for a special programme. Global questions the taiwan, china conflict. Hello, welcome to global questions with me, zeinab badawi, from Liberty Square in taipei, the capital city of taiwan. The main island of taiwan lies about 160 kilometres across the waters from china. In the past few months, china has stepped up its military exercises, and fired missiles over taiwan, in growing tensions with the government here. The chinese president , xijinping, has reiterated the claim that taiwan belongs to china, and he says he does not rule out the use of force to take it over. Meanwhile, the United States, which supports taiwan, has hardened its position with President Biden saying he would send american troops to defend it. So, if china did invade taiwan, it would be a conflict with huge global dimensions, one that involves the two superpowers, the United States and china. That is global questions, taiwan, a flashpoint with china and the world . Applause welcome to the
an amphibious invasion of taiwan is much higher than a land invasion which russia has carried out. they have to cross a 180 kilometre body of water, and in that passage there will be many moments where they are very vulnerable to taiwan s missile systems. economically, we have seen that the west has gone after russia and a comprehensive way. we have not seen the outcome of the war, i agree with that, they are yet to be seen, but china has taken note of the way that west has sanctioned russia, and thirdly, the strategic environment has changed. countries are much more worried and aware of the potential of a major war, and worried and aware of the potential ofa majorwar, and i worried and aware of the potential of a major war, and i think that is changing calculations in regional governments. it changing calculations in regional governments- changing calculations in regional covernments. . , , . governments. it all seems that you think it would governments. it all seems that you think
ukraine is ongoing. vladimir putin model,. the war in ukraine is ongoing. it vladimir putin model,. the war in ukraine is ongoing. it depends - vladimir putin model,. the war in ukraine is ongoing. it depends on l ukraine is ongoing. it depends on the final result. if the war is a disaster for russia, then the final result. if the war is a disasterfor russia, then probably xijinping will think it is disasterfor russia, then probably xi jinping will think it is very dangerous to initiate a war against taiwan. i dangerous to initiate a war against taiwan. ~ g , dangerous to initiate a war against taiwan. ~ . , . taiwan. i think xi jinping will draw a aood taiwan. i think xi jinping will draw a good lesson taiwan. i think xi jinping will draw a good lesson of taiwan. i think xi jinping will draw a good lesson of putin s taiwan. i think xi jinping will draw a good lesson of putin s invasion, | a good lesson of putin s invasion, that it a good lesson of putin s invasion, that it
accomplice on that. so we are no| accomplices? you could be. if you hel the accomplices? you could be. if you help the chinese accomplices? you could be. if you help the chinese communist - accomplices? you could be. if youj help the chinese communist party exaggerate their threat. at the end, the threat exaggerate their threat. at the end, the threat only works when it became a real the threat only works when it became a real threat the threat only works when it became a real threat to the taiwanese people. a real threat to the taiwanese people, and the taiwanese people, yesm people, and the taiwanese people, es. ., ., . ., people, and the taiwanese people, es. ., ., . ., yes. i m going to have to take issue with yes. i m going to have to take issue with you yes. i m going to have to take issue with you here, yes. i m going to have to take issue with you here, it - yes. i m going to have to take issue with you here, it is - yes. i m going to have to take issue with y
the people in taiwan are not considering the necessary vigilance is important. fire considering the necessary vigilance is important- is important. are you suggesting the are is important. are you suggesting they are being is important. are you suggesting they are being too is important. are you suggesting they are being too complacent? | is important. are you suggesting| they are being too complacent? i think people are aware of the situation, we need that kind of bowler situation, we need that kind of popular support in order to raise the awareness and also increase the defence the awareness and also increase the defence budget. the awareness and also increase the defence budget. awareness of what? awareness of defence budget. awareness of what? awareness of the defence budget. awareness of what? awareness of the possible defence budget. awareness of what? awareness of the possible chinese i awareness of the possible chinese military awareness of the possible chinese