China is continuing to raise the pressure on Taiwan. CNBC reports here that China sent 33 planes and 6 ships towards Taiwan just as the US and China were starting talks between the US National Security Advisor and the Chinese Foreign Minister.
My question is whether this has anything to do with China’s changing economic environment.
- Its latest economic growth numbers were 5.2% for 2023 and 2024 projections have been trending lower
- Its property market is still woeful
- US manufacturers are turning to India and other southeast Asia countries for supply chain investments — further threatening to weaken Chinese growth
Does China see Taiwan’s 92% dominance in microchips smaller than 10 nanometers as a string lever against the US if they can seize Taiwan? Much of military systems utilize these types of chips to squeeze more processing power in a given space. Capturing Taiwan would give China both economic and political leverage.
If China sees the US government in disarray (thanks, GQP) but the potential for the Dems to gain the House, Senate, and White House and then stabilize the US both domestically and internationally, do they move before the election to try to stave off the potential that they slip further behind?
What does it to the election if this blows up?