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China Can Now Take Taiwan (But It Has Discovered Something Better) | VisualPolitik EN

The video examines how China now possesses the military capability to seize Taiwan, yet appears to be postponing any direct action, while U.S. support erodes amid the ongoing war in Iran. It highlights a recent Department of Defense assessment that Beijing could be ready to launch an invasion as early as next year, and points to a dramatic acceleration in PLA assets – three aircraft carriers, expanding fighter fleets, and a newly elevated Rocket Force – alongside intensified naval patrols, cyber attacks, and the construction of mock‑up Taiwanese government buildings for rehearsal. Key data include Chinese aircraft crossing the Taiwan Strait median line in over 60% of flights in 2024, naval deployments around the island on 75% of days, and a 150% surge in cyber intrusions. The United States has halted arms sales to Taiwan, a blow to Taipei’s deterrence strategy, and U.S. intelligence now states China has no plans to invade in 2027, suggesting political calculations and resource constraints are tempering aggression. The video cites vivid examples: floating barges designed to bridge the strait for amphibious assaults, replica Taiwanese landmarks in Inner Mongolia for training, and Taiwan’s $17 billion five‑year push to develop a domestic drone industry and high‑density anti‑ship missile arrays capable of striking mainland targets up to 2,000 km away. It also references the lessons drawn from Ukraine’s resistance and Iran’s asymmetric defense, underscoring how smaller forces can blunt superior militaries. Implications are profound: Taiwan’s shift toward distributed command, low‑cost drones, and long‑range missiles could raise the cost of any Chinese invasion, forcing Washington to reconsider its ambiguous commitment. The potential disruption of Taiwan’s semiconductor supply chain adds a global economic dimension, prompting investors and policymakers to monitor the evolving security calculus closely.