Shawn Ryan Show #209 Erik Prince & Erik Bethel - The China / Taiwan Conflict
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Jun 16, 2025 
In this discussion, Erik Prince, a former Navy SEAL and founder of Blackwater, teams up with Erik Bethel, a former World Bank representative. They delve into the intricate historical ties between Taiwan and China, emphasizing the implications of authoritarian governance. The duo highlights the economic and geopolitical repercussions of a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan. They also explore the growing tensions in the Asia-Pacific region, China's unconventional warfare tactics, and the urgent need for innovation in U.S. military strategies to counter these dynamics.
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Taiwan's Unique Historical Status
- Taiwan was historically inhabited by Austronesian tribes and never ruled by Beijing since 1949.
- The Chinese Communist Party has no historical governance over Taiwan, which fled Nationalist leadership in 1949.
China's Governance Shift Under Xi
- China evolved from Deng Xiaoping's open economy to Xi Jinping's intense authoritarian control.
- Xi reversed decades of economic openness, consolidating power like Mao with massive state surveillance.
Taiwan and Chinese Political Divide
- Taiwan was never part of the Chinese Communist Party's rule and remains a distinct cultural entity.
- After 1949, Nationalists fled to Taiwan creating two Chinas, with Taiwan never governed by the CCP.
