China-Taiwan Military Equilibrium Sways in China’s Favor

The China-Taiwan military balance is tipping in China’s favor, the Japanese government warned in its “Defense of Japan 2025” paper published July 15.

China’s division: After losing a civil war to the Chinese Communist Party (ccp) in 1949, the government of the Republic of China, led by the Kuomintang, retreated to the island of Taiwan. From that point forward, Taiwan and China have been governed separately. The ccp asserts Taiwan is a province of China and consistently advocates for unification, which does not rule out the possibility of a forceful seizure.

Chinese aggression: Japan’s paper warned about China’s rapid military buildup and its increasing use of “gray-zone” activities. A gray-zone activity is coercive and aggressive but falls short of open warfare. By swarming Taiwan’s civilian vessels, conducting war drills near its territory, making incursions into its air defense identification zone, and poaching its diplomatic partners, China is working to wear the nation down before open war even begins.

America’s withdrawal: For decades, Taiwan has enjoyed independence due to its strong military, political and economic ties with the United States. Yet with the U.S. domestically focused and war-weary, it is doubtful whether it would help Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack.

With China’s increasing aggression and America’s volatile foreign policy, the balance of power is tipping toward China.

More than 20 years ago, Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry warned that America’s broken will—prophesied in Leviticus 26:19—meant Taiwan would eventually be “forced into the Chinese mold.” He wrote: “[I]t is going to happen for one reason: because of a pitifully weak-willed America. Does freedom really mean so little to us?”

Learn more: Read “Taiwan Betrayal.”