No lessons will be learned in Washington from the debacle in Afghanistan. But they’re being learned in Beijing. The lesson learned is that if a bunch of jihadis can humiliate the U.S., so can China, and so Taiwan is imperiled.
“Afghanistan situation a lesson for Taiwan authorities: Global Times editorial,” Global Times, August 16, 2021:
The US troops’ withdrawal from Afghanistan has led to the rapid demise of the Kabul government. The world has witnessed how the US evacuated its diplomats by helicopter while Taliban soldiers crowded into the presidential palace in Kabul. This has dealt a heavy blow to the credibility and reliability of the US….
How Washington abandoned the Kabul regime particularly shocked some in Asia, including the island of Taiwan. Taiwan is the region that relies on the protection of the US the most in Asia, and the island’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities have made Taiwan go further and further down this abnormal path. The situation in Afghanistan suddenly saw a radical change after the country was abandoned by the US. And Washington just left despite the worsening situation in Kabul. Is this some kind of omen of Taiwan’s future fate?…
The DPP authorities need to keep a sober head, and the secessionist forces should reserve the ability to wake up from their dreams. From what happened in Afghanistan, they should perceive that once a war breaks out in the Straits, the island’s defense will collapse in hours and the US military won’t come to help. As a result, the DPP authorities will quickly surrender, while some high-level officials may flee by plane. …
Crusades Were Right says
America’s “diverse” and “inclusive” military just received its first big test…
… and passed it with flying colours…
… by “taking a knee”, so to speak,…
… to Afghanistan’s “Proud Muslims Of Colour”…
… aka the Taliban.
“(Your) diversity is our strength.”
VarAway says
First big test?
How about test # 1, the Korean War?
How about test # 2, the Vietnam War?
Crusades Were Right says
@VarAway:
Not quite as “diverse” and “inclusive” though, as it was back then!
(Also, the Korean War was surely a “draw”, no?)
Crusades Were Right says
Rather:
Wasn’t quite as “diverse” and “inclusive” back then, though, as it is now!
lol
VarAway says
With due respect, it was a truce imho.
James Borona says
It’s the suits, not the boots! -JIMBO
VarAway says
100% agree!
As soon as a war becomes politicized, it’s doomed to fail.
Walter Sieruk says
The China nation of Taiwan engages in commerce with the world. By contrast Communist China infects the world with the coronavirus.
Infidel says
Taiwan’s ruling party is the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which has an agenda of declaring Taiwan totally dependent on China, and to stop pretending to be the ‘Republic of China’. It’s why the KMT is now a pro-Beijing party. Only reason they haven’t done it is the threat of a Chinese invasion
Given all that, it’s unfair of you to call them the ‘China nation of Taiwan’, since they no longer have those pretentions. It would be like saying ‘the England nation of the US’
Daniel Triplett says
Not only is Biden an inferior military CINC, but he’s also compromised. He’ll give the Chinese, Russians, et al any policy they want, because he knows they have enough dirt on him and his crime family’s treason, extortion/bribery, racketeering, and money laundering crimes which, if they publicized, would end his presidency, and put his entire family in prison.
Were I Xinping, I’d invade/conquer/annex Taiwan early tomorrow morning. And were I Putin, I’d do the same thing with Ukraine. No way will Biden go kinetic in response. I’m not encouraging them to do so, of course, but we’d be wise to be honest, get real, and be situationally aware of our adversaries’ anticipated actions.
gravenimage says
China learns lesson of Afghanistan: In a war, Taiwan would collapse in hours, US military won’t help
………….
Deeply disturbing. Ever since Nixon threw democratic Taiwan under the bus fifty years ago, she has been in increasing danger from Communist China.
Infidel says
Hopefully, the Chicoms will make a beeline for Afghanistan to add it to their belt/road empire and to prevent the Uyghurs from gaining a foothold, and in the process, Afghanistan will become their tarbaby, instead of ours, or the Soviets before us
gravenimage says
“China welcomes Taliban, embassy operating ‘normally’ in Kabul as other countries rush to evacuate”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxFzkjOx7ME&ab_channel=HindustanTimes
China seems good with the Taliban.
Infidel says
Wonder whether the Taliban will then be like other muslim countries and ban Uyghurs from fleeing to Afghanistan, let alone Uyghur jihadists taking up arms. On what islamic basis will they deny that?
James Lincoln says
gravenimage,
Interestingly, the “distraction” of the Watergate scandal had – luckily – prevented the United States from *completely* severing relations with Taiwan.
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2021/07/19/2003761086
Infidel says
There is one big difference. The Taiwanese love their freedom, and in their last 2 elections, they’ve voted in a party whose plank was to make Taiwan a completely independent entity, not a pretend China. (In fact, that’s why the KMT is now a pro-Beijing party)
If the Chicoms simply wanted to nuke Taiwan and make it like one of their artificial islands in the South China Sea, it would be one thing. But if they actually send troops into that country, they’ll be badly bloodied. Just b’cos the Afghans are on the same page as the Taliban doesn’t mean that the Taiwanese are on the same page as the Chicoms
gravenimage says
I hope so, Infidel. Certainly, many Taiwanese do love freedom.
OLD GUY says
Americas not weak, our Political leaders are. While the intelligence is in their heads the grit is not in their gut. They think you can fight a war with all kinds of rules on your military while the enemy fights to KILL unrestricted.
Yohanan says
>”Critics likewise argued that withdrawal from Vietnam would hurt our credibility. In reality, Japan and other allies questioned our ability to protect them not because we withdrew from Vietnam, but because the United States was militarily overstretched. Withdrawal did not undermine our credibility; by consolidating our efforts, it might enhance it.” – Daniel Silverberg. “Biden Was Right
The president made a difficult but necessary choice.” Atlantic. AUGUST 16, 2021