The Boiling Moat: Urgent Steps to Defend Taiwan

Analysis

July 1, 2024Hoover Institution Press
By: Matt Pottinger (ed.)
Related Experts: Ivan Kanapathy, Ross Babbage, Michael A. Hunzeker

Chinese leader Xi Jinping has openly expressed his intention to annex Taiwan to mainland China, even threatening the use of force. An invasion or blockade of Taiwan by Chinese forces would be catastrophic, with severe consequences for democracies worldwide. Featuring CSBA Non-Resident Senior Fellows Ivan Kanapathy, Ross Babbage, and Michael Hunzeker, The Boiling Moat outlines practical steps for deterrence. The authors stress that preventing a war is more affordable than waging one and emphasize the importance of learning from recent failures in deterrence, such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The Boiling Moat argues that a robust military strategy is essential for countering Beijing's aggression. Pottinger and his team map out a workable military strategy for Taiwan, the United States, Japan, Australia, and Europe to pursue collectively, urging quick adoption to avert a devastating war. The significance of Taiwan to the world economy, semiconductor supply, and Indo-Pacific security is underscored.

The authors stress that preventing China's coercive annexation of Taiwan requires democracies to demonstrate not just the means but also the will to effectively resist, conveying the message that a military attempt by Xi would likely lead to disastrous consequences, both for China and for the international community.

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