Id go with

 

Is China preparing for a war over Taiwan, 

or has the west got it wrong? 

Here are the indicators

"At a time when Russia has been making gains in Ukraine and the Middle East appears to be on the brink of further regional conflict, a China-US military stand off is the last thing the world needs.

At first glance however, it might appear that China is preparing for a long-term conflict with the US over Taiwan, the self-governing island of 24 million people, which the mainland claims.

In his New Year’s address China’s president, Xi Jinping, stated that Taiwan would “surely be reunited” with China. This is particularly significant as it comes days ahead of Taiwan’s national election on January 13. The result which may deliver a more pro-Beijing government opting for closer ties, or what is currently looking more likely a Taiwanese leader who wants to keep Beijing at arms length.

(The second option is what happened BTW)

"The election will see the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) face off against the conservative Kuomintang (KMT). The DPP’s candidate, Lai Ching-te, who has been leading in the polls, has often been described as a more outspoken advocate of Taiwanese independence than his predecessor, the outgoing Tsai Yingwen, who took a more diplomatic approach, believing there was no need to state her support for independence as the island was a sovereign nation."

(You really wanna send your children to die for Taiwan?

This has never had anything to do with democracy etc 

and everything to do with keeping China from reaching the second island chain.

Dont kid yourselves.)

"Any shift or pro-independence statement is likely to be seen by Beijing as a prompt for military action, since a formal declaration of independence is a red line for Beijing."

"Other key indicators

There are other key indicators to watch out for. The Chinese military has expanded and modernised over the past five years, and its advances in hypersonic missile technology puts Beijing at an advantage, as the US hasn’t yet deployed an equivalent.

Also significant is the growing perception of the US as an enemy among the Chinese public, part of a government narrative, especially since 2017. This is also a common theme among Chinese netizens as well, many of whom tend to be more nationalistic than the government is."

"...while Beijing has adjusted to the new reality of an increasingly confrontational China-US relationship, this does not mean that China is definitely keen to start a long-term conflict. China is adjusting to massive challenges within its struggling economy, which makes Beijing somewhat reluctant to move to a war footing, despite its confrontational rhetoric."

(They know they only have a short window as well and they have always sought Taiwan since the civil war there.)

"Both sides have reservations

China’s significant industrial capacity and the reduction of western military stockpiles caused by the war in Ukraine, mean a conflict with China is something that the US can ill afford."

("the reduction of western military stockpiles 

caused by the war in Ukraine"

You still dont think they are working together?

Are you blind or what?

IT WAS THE PLAN ALL ALONG PEOPLE!
WAKE UP!

Or is this how you prefer to go through life?

Might as well be addicted to mind-numbing, 

addictive,

 shallow,

 entertainment videos

like...oh I dont know...tic-toc or something...

say...

what country did Tic-toc originate in anyway?)

"This was further underlined by several simulation exercises of a Taiwan conflict by the US military in 2020. They discovered that nine out of ten of the possible outcomes ended in a US defeat. So, a potential conflict with China poses a notable challenge for American power."

(3000 miles across the pacific 

in Chinas back yard

with an aging navy.

Think about it for a second.)

"It’s clear that the present crises have provided an opportunity for China to gain understanding of current military challenges, as well as delivering some benefits. The conflict in Ukraine has provided China with several economic benefits, most notably in the form of greater access to Russian oil and gas, that had been the lifeblood of many European industries which Chinese firms have competed against."

(Yeah I know

There's just no way they are working together.

Makes perfect sense.

Read that again 

"The conflict in Ukraine has provided China with several economic benefits, most notably in the form of greater access to Russian oil and gas, that had been the lifeblood of many European industries which Chinese firms have competed against"

and come at me with the "it was a Russian born Ukrainian expat intelligence officer in the Ukrainian armed services and his team of five others who rented a boat in Poland from German nationals to go blow up the Nordstream pipeline narrative nonsense.

I knew who was behind that pipeline bombing the second I saw the picture with the gas bubbles coming to the surface.

No thinking

No research

No praying 

no nothing 

just knew instantaneously.

You either believe in the Holy Spirit 

delivering spiritual gifts 

to those who relentlessly ask for them 

or you dont.

Decision time, 

eternity is at stake.

Choose wisely.)

"Equally, the tensions in the Middle East have served as a distraction for the US, which has had to focus more on the Middle East and Ukraine rather than fully committing to a confrontation with China. These crises have bought China time to prepare for what might come next."

"These events show what knowledge China has accumulated. In the case of Ukraine, this is the importance of industrial production to warfare, with Russia’s industrial base enabling Moscow to continue with the conflict. It also highlights the limitations of Nato’s capabilities in supplying Ukraine."

(We sold our industrial base out to our adversaries for the almighty $ yo. Get it through your thick skulls children.)

"The vulnerabilities of maritime power have been illustrated by the Houthi blockade of the Red Sea. This has demonstrated the possibilities of using missile and drone technologies to challenge stronger powers. In the case of China, this could take the form of Beijing using its anti-ship and hypersonic missile capabilities to challenge Washington’s naval strength."

(Our ships interceptor missiles are being depleted by the Houthis

just as our conventional ground based armaments have been exhausted by Russian force in Ukraine.

Still gonna argue theres no collusion here?

Wake up!

The big one is on the horizon folks 

and it aint looking good 

and there is very little we can do about it.

Brace yourselves.)

"What is becoming clear is that Beijing is increasingly preparing for a possible conflict, just in case. This preparation could help determine the outcome in Beijing’s favour."

they're working together.

Yeah.

Thats what I'd go with.