Marv's Smart Future

How should the U.S. respond to China’s Taiwan Provocations?

By Evan M. Dudik
edudik@evandudik.com

March 9, 2021

What do you do when a well-armed enemy gives every sign of spoiling for a fight? That’s what China signals by its latest, expanded incursions into Taiwan’s defense zones January 23-24 2021. China’s forces included nuclear-capable bombers, anti-submarine aircraft and fighter escorts. On Monday, March 1, China launched a month-long combined forces exercise in the South China Sea. As public guarantor of Taiwan’s de facto independence, a provocation of Taiwan also provokes the U.S. Continue reading →

In follow up to the series on China’s Grand Strategy, you can download the full PDF version and supplement using the links below:

• China’s Grand Strategy: Complete Version
• China’s Grand Strategy: The Importance of the Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computing Race

What is the United States to do?
By Evan Dudik

We’ve established in this series that China is a behemoth to be reckoned with.   

If you believe, as I do, that China’s drive for hegemony represents a steadily less speculative and ever-clearer danger to the United States, the West and the world, it’s worthwhile to analyze how best the US should respond.

Continue reading →

China’s Grand Strategy
By Evan Dudik

Previously, we outlined in detail areas where China is jockeying for influence across the globe. We’re now positioned to distill the country’s Grand Strategy.

Continue reading →

Belt and Road Initiative, Why?
By Evan Dudik — edudik@evandudik.com

In the Panama Canal and elsewhere, China sees opportunities to leverage strategic investments.

Fast forward to recent years. In 2015 an anonymous source leaked the heretofore secret Panama Papers. The Papers documented shell companies—over 200,000 of them—shielding world power players including Vladimir Putin from scrutiny of their wealth, control of companies and taxes. One result is that Panama no longer became a favorite venue for global bankers. The leakage of Papers continues to this day (writing in mid-2019). Banking is  so important to the Panamanian economy, it has looked elsewhere to replace its international banking industry. China steps in:

Continue reading →

Belt and Road Initiative – What?
By Evan Dudik — edudik@evandudik.com

It isn’t just through military and economic growth at sea, in space and online that China is building its grand strategy. Through massive infrastructure projects such as building ports and bridges in small countries like Djibouti and once-powerful ones such as Italy, China is challenging the U.S. sphere of influence.

Continue reading →

Cyberspace
By Evan Dudik — edudik@evandudik.com

In Part 3 we looked at elements of China’s grand strategy to control the threat from the United States, at sea and in space. 

Then there’s China’s effort in the other space, cyberspace.

Continue reading →

China’s Grand Strategy and the US
By Evan Dudik

In Part 2 I discussed how much China wants to bring Taiwan back into the fold, and some ways it will work to get there. The U.S., with its commitment to Taiwan, stands in the way. This week I look at how China’s strategy to isolate the U.S. echoes how it intends to handle the Taiwan issue.

Continue reading →

China’s Strategy for the South China Sea and Taiwan
By Evan Dudik

In Part 1 I introduced a series of eight posts exploring how China has adopted a “grand strategy” to place itself more firmly on the world stage politically, militarily and economically. Here I delve into an important element of that strategy, China’s efforts to assert control of the sea immediately to its eastern shore, as well as Taiwan, its so-called breakaway province.

Continue reading →