Expert Warns of Global Peril if US-China Tensions Over Taiwan Escalate
China asserts sovereignty over the island, while the US supports Taiwan with arms under a policy of strategic ambiguity.
President of Taiwan Tsai Ing-wen visits Taipei Economic and Cultural Office on 42nd street in New York, USA on March 30, 2023. President of Taiwan will continue to USA visit in Washington, DC and Los Angeles and visit South American countries later on. Photo by Anadolu Images.
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s the globe continues to navigate through a myriad of conflicts, the rising tensions between the United States and China over Taiwan are drawing serious warnings from experts about the risk of a broader global confrontation. David F. J. Campbell, an associate professor at the University of Vienna, cautioned that any military skirmish over Taiwan could be a tipping point for world peace, potentially leading to a third world war.
Speaking at the Stratcom Summit in Istanbul, Campbell underscored the precarious state of global affairs with existing conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war and the recent escalations in Gaza. He indicated that the world’s focus should remain on de-escalation, especially in East Asia, where the stakes are alarmingly high.
Taiwan remains a contentious issue with its strategic geopolitical position and its ambiguous political status. China asserts sovereignty over the island, while the US supports Taiwan with arms under a policy of strategic ambiguity. Campbell highlighted the potential dangers of this delicate balance being disrupted, stating, “If there is a direct military confrontation between US and Chinese forces, then perhaps a World War III might be on the table.”
The nuclear capabilities
Campbell also alluded to the nuclear capabilities of both nations as a significant deterrent, referencing Albert Einstein’s sobering prediction about the destructive potential of a third world war. He further discussed the Budapest Memorandum’s role in the denuclearization of Ukraine, pondering if Ukraine’s relinquishment of nuclear arms made it a more accessible target for Russian aggression.
Moreover, Campbell noted the rationality he believes exists within the leadership of both China and the US, suggesting that both are aware that an altercation over Taiwan could spiral out of control. “Chinese and American leaders are realizing that any conflict over Taiwan would perhaps be the final straw before a World War III,” he explained.
Navigating positions in the Taiwan Strait
This stark warning comes at a time when both superpowers are carefully navigating their positions in the Taiwan Strait, with the US continuing to assert freedom of navigation and China expressing its discontent with such maneuvers.
The global community watches closely as the situation in East Asia unfolds, with the hope that diplomatic efforts will prevail over military action and that the specter of a large-scale war can be avoided.
For now, the status quo remains, but the expert’s caution serves as a reminder of the fragility of peace and the interconnected nature of regional conflicts in our global landscape.
Source: Anadolu Images
