If Xi Jinping moves to take Taiwan by force, it will require logistical and political preparations that cannot be hidden from the rest of the world. In an essay adapted from his new book, Defending Taiwan, Eyck Freymann looks at how the U.S. and its allies can try to prevent Xi from pulling the trigger — and what they must do if he does.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is displayed on a screen as Type 99A2 Chinese battle tanks take part in a parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of Japan's surrender during World War II, Beijing, September 3, 2015. Credit: Ng Han Guan via AP Images
In March and April 2021, up to 100,000 Russian military personnel and large quantities of military equipment began to mass along the Ukrainian border. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu claimed that Russia’s mobilization was a “response to threatening activities” by NATO, citing the Defender Europe 2021 exercise, which involved 28,000 troops. However, this excuse strained credibility. NATO’s exercise was long-planned, and the nature and timing of Russia’s response suggested that Mo
Exclusive longform investigative journalism, Q&As, news and analysis, and data on Chinese business elites and corporations. We publish China scoops you won't find anywhere else.
A weekly curated reading list on China from Andrew Peaple.
A daily roundup of China finance, business and economics headlines.
We offer discounts for groups, institutions and students. Go to our Subscriptions page for details.
To mark the 25th anniversary of the Hainan spy plane crisis, The Wire China is publishing the second installment of its discussions with people who participated in the dramatic showdown. For Part I see our March 29 cover article.
Now on podcast platforms everywhere, The Wire China hits the airwaves to take you behind the scenes of the stories we cover each week. We are dedicated to understanding and explaining one of the biggest stories of our time: China’s economic rise and its influence on the world.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.
