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
relationship evolved under xi jinina? g , ., jinping? does xi jinping want to invade taiwan? jinping? does xi jinping want to invade taiwan? the - jinping? does xi jinping want - to invade taiwan? the comments he made when he first came to power, he said early on in his tenure that he thought taiwan was not an issue that should be passed down through generations. some people thought he would want to deal with taiwan very quickly, some thought he had an appetite to invade. we certainly have seen heightened military exercises during this time, he does not seem to shy away from confrontation. 0n the other hand the chinese economy is not doing very well right now and the sanctions beijing has placed on taiwan have been very carefully placed so far, really only on local taiwan products, nothing that would hurt china as a whole. and so some people think maybe his appetite for conflict, his appetite for hosting the chinese economy isn t very high right now. clearly perhaps to signal a messa
china is also a bit of a bind here because they do not want to help russia by the same token, they do not want to see a russia that is too weak and feeble because they are a partner of china. it is a difficult situation for mr xi jinping. in difficult situation for mr xi jinina. ., difficult situation for mr xi jinuin, ., difficult situation for mr xi jin-uin. .,, , ~ jinping. in to ask because mr biden did jinping. in to ask because mr biden did score jinping. in to ask because mr biden did score a jinping. in to ask because mr biden did score a victory - jinping. in to ask because mr biden did score a victory in l biden did score a victory in the us midterm elections. for this change the tenor of their meeting today? it this change the tenor of their meeting today? meeting today? it certainly hels meeting today? it certainly helps mr meeting today? it certainly helps mr biden meeting today? it certainly helps mr biden that - meeting today? it certainly helps mr biden that
them as well, and discourage them, both sit together. i them as well, and discourage them, both sit together. both sit together. i think we should not be making both sit together. i think we should not be making suggestions - both sit together. i think we should not be making suggestions about i both sit together. i think we should i not be making suggestions about what the chinese might do to shut down taiwan the chinese might do to shut down taiwan. that would be my biggest comment~ taiwan. that would be my biggest comment. i think there are a lot of things comment. i think there are a lot of things that comment. i think there are a lot of things that taiwan can do, that are positive things that taiwan can do, that are positive to things that taiwan can do, that are positive to help prepare for the attack positive to help prepare for the attack. , ., . , attack. the question was with the russian example attack. the question was with the russian example serve attac
china. so at that level, it is also really important.- china. so at that level, it is also really important. you make also really important. you make a very good also really important. you make a very good important also really important. you make a very good important point - a very good important point because china is an absent friend at this event but a hugely important one. obviously as a rival or strategic terms for the united states but also as an ally on this question of climate change, where clearly joe biden objective s depend a lot on chinese corporations and we had a commitment made by president shejinping in september last year that has got a huge potential if it is delivered president xi jinping. delivered president xi jinina. ., delivered president xi jinuin, ., ., jinping. you are right. therefore jinping. you are right. therefore with - jinping. you are right. therefore with the - jinping. you are right. i therefore with the china relationship with the uni