If they’re external creditors, it makes it a lot easier for them to go “nope, not paying that, what are you going to do?” when they’re one massive state-backed monolith.
They are in the same club as countries like Japan, South Korea, Germany, Italy, etc. - highly developed nations that are fully capable of developing nuclear weapons, but chose not to (or were forced not to).
I think if they started working towards it, China would feel forced to step up their reunification efforts. If a nuclear deterrent is going to be a viable path back to a stable status quo, it will have to be a fait accompli with external help.
I could imagine a return to what Taiwan had until the early '70s, American tactical nuclear bombs stored on the island, in a similar nuclear sharing arrangement like several European nations that don’t have nuclear weapons of their own, but train pilots to drop them.
If they’re external creditors, it makes it a lot easier for them to go “nope, not paying that, what are you going to do?” when they’re one massive state-backed monolith.
Sovereign default is a thing. It’s a short term solution that can get a country out of immediate danger, but has very negative long term effects.
“Give Taiwan nukes”, if the Dark Brandon memes are any indication.
Taiwan could develop nukes on their own, if necessary. They had a secret nuclear weapons program until the late 1980s:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan_and_weapons_of_mass_destruction
They are in the same club as countries like Japan, South Korea, Germany, Italy, etc. - highly developed nations that are fully capable of developing nuclear weapons, but chose not to (or were forced not to).
I think if they started working towards it, China would feel forced to step up their reunification efforts. If a nuclear deterrent is going to be a viable path back to a stable status quo, it will have to be a fait accompli with external help.
I could imagine a return to what Taiwan had until the early '70s, American tactical nuclear bombs stored on the island, in a similar nuclear sharing arrangement like several European nations that don’t have nuclear weapons of their own, but train pilots to drop them.
It would have to be done very carefully and quickly, so that there is no chance for brinkmanship.
b… brinkmanship?
Brinkmanship
noun
the art or practice of pursuing a dangerous policy to the limits of safety before stopping, especially in politics.
“in any game of brinkmanship, it is possible that one side will collapse suddenly”
Can I help you?
Nah, I am good. Just didn’t know the definition so I helped myself and hopefully others like myself.