The Podcast of the Lotus Eaters PREVIEW: Realpolitik #17 | After China Invades Taiwan
Oct 21, 2025
The discussion dives into China's urgent motivations to invade Taiwan amidst shifting global power. It highlights the critical role of rare earths in military technology and the West's attempts to decouple from Chinese supply chains. The podcast breaks down China's impressive advancements in strategic technologies and military preparations, including fortifications and fleet expansions. It also explores Taiwan's strategic maritime position and its implications for regional security as tensions rise.
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China Uses Trade Controls To Buy Time
- China is tightening export controls on rare earths and tech to delay Western re-shoring and blunt countermeasures.
- The restrictions buy China time but only until the West completes supply-chain decoupling.
Accelerate Western Industrial Autonomy
- Support efforts to re-shore and diversify supply chains for chips, rare earths, and defense inputs now.
- Accelerating industrial autonomy reduces the strategic leverage China gains from export controls.
Rapid Shift In Global Tech Leadership
- China's R&D and manufacturing leadership has surged across critical technologies since 2003–2007.
- The shift makes China relatively stronger now but suggests a narrowing window for decisive action.