[etempleton]

The move by the Biden administration is about advanced weapon systems and China’s dangerous rhetoric—especially in the shadow of Russia’s actions.

The war in Ukraine demonstrates that, if anything, the US underestimated the advantage of western weapon systems. That has little to do with the steel and mechanical engineering and much to do with chips and software.

The US has to take China’s threats seriously. They are boasting about Hong Kong. They feel emboldened by it. I don’t think the rhetoric is empty about Taiwan. And if they take the island it will only embolden China further.

If China takes Taiwan it changes the entire global power dynamic. If they try and fail it is probably the beginning of the end of the Chinese government as we know it.