How the U.S.’s Taiwan Policy Makes War with China a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
Jan 5, 2023
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Dr. Ken Hammond, Professor of East Asian and Global History at New Mexico State University and leading organizer with Pivot to Peace, joins Brian to discuss the increasing calls in the US for war with China over Taiwan. They explore the dangerous period the US is in, the reckless approach taken by politicians and the media, and the changing relationship with allies. They also examine the bipartisan initiatives in the US towards China, question the motives behind aid to Taiwan, and discuss the attitudes of figures like Biden towards a new Cold War. The chapter ends with a call for a critique of capitalism and a deeper understanding of socialism.
The US government is deliberately increasing tensions with China over Taiwan to prepare the American people for conflict and protect its global dominance.
The American ruling elites use aggressive approaches like militarization and demonization to counter China's rise and maintain their power.
Deep dives
US calls for war with China over Taiwan
Influential voices in the United States are urging the country to prepare for war with China over Taiwan. The Wall Street Journal has published articles advocating for the US to get ready for war, echoing the Pentagon's prioritization of major power conflict with China in its military doctrine. While the US rulers may not genuinely believe they can win a major war with China, they are using this rhetoric to prepare the American people for conflict over Taiwan. However, such actions are reckless and could quickly escalate tensions. It is important to recognize that China has consistently advocated for peaceful resolution of the Taiwan issue as an internal matter, but the US is deliberately heightening tensions to protect its own interests and maintain its global dominance.
American ruling elites seek to maintain global domination
The American ruling elites are engaged in an ongoing effort to counter China's rise and maintain their global domination. They perceive China's emergence as a threat to their power and privileges and construct narratives that depict China as expansionist and destabilizing. However, this perception ignores the deep structural changes taking place in the world order, as the global dominance of the US diminishes. The American elites' aggressive approach aims to weaken China and thwart its development through militarization and demonization. They view any effort by countries to strengthen themselves and pursue their own interests as defiance and aggression, reflecting their own history of aggression and domination.
US provocative actions against North Korea
The US has been engaging in provocative actions against North Korea, such as major war exercises simulating the destruction and invasion of North Korea, which only further exacerbates tensions. These actions are strategically aimed at maintaining American dominance in the region and keeping countries like China and North Korea in check. The American ruling class perceives any resistance to its domination as aggression, and they invert the vocabulary to portray acts of self-defense as attacks on American interests. Such actions contribute to the overall strategy of encircling and containing China, and they should be seen as steps towards potential local conflicts and larger global confrontations.
Shifting dynamics of US-Japan relationship
The US has viewed Japan as a strategic base in the Western Pacific since the end of World War II. The relationship between the US and Japan has been fraught with tensions, as the US seeks to maintain control over Japan and prevent its independence. The US encourages Japan's rearmament and escalates its military activities in the region. However, there is growing unease within Japan about its subordinate role and the pressure to increase its military capabilities. While the US wants Japan as a junior partner in its strategic position, the Japanese people have shown resistance and unrest regarding the US military presence and their desire for greater autonomy. The US's focus on controlling Japan is crucial in its larger geostrategic game to encircle and contain China in the Asia-Pacific region.
A growing chorus of U.S. elites are calling for the U.S. government to prepare for war with China. The strategy hinges on coercing Taiwan into the middle of the “major power conflict” with mainland China.
Brian is joined by Dr. Ken Hammond, professor of East Asian and Global History at New Mexico State University, founding director of the Confucius Institute at New Mexico State University, and leading organizer with Pivot to Peace.
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