China
Xi's plan for Taiwan + Election in Australia
Dear reader,
Xi Jinping currently has his hands full: The Covid pandemic has flared up again, growth has slowed, and foreign investors are threatening to leave. So no more time for conflict with Taiwan? A false assumption, Alexander Goerlach warns in an interview with Michael Radunski. Xi has the clear goal of annexing the island republic in his lifetime. Given his not-so-youthful age of 69, analysts are already discussing possible invasion dates. Russia's costly invasion of Ukraine will not deter Xi, according to Goerlach. You could shrug that off as mere alarmism, since none of us can predict the future. But Putin's invasion of Ukraine has also surprised many observers.
Australia also plays an important role in the global power struggle for influence in the Indo-Pacific. "Down Under" recently experienced firsthand what it means when Beijing becomes active in its own "backyard". The Chinese treaty with the Solomon Islands left Australia in shock. With it, China directly pushes into Canberra's sphere of influence. On Sunday, Australians will elect a new prime minister, and China plays a big role in the election campaign, Christiane Kuehl reports.
The German government can soon expect diplomatic headwinds from the Far East. Yesterday, the Federal Parliament voted in favor of greater Taiwanese participation in the World Health Organization. This is a thorn in Beijing's side, because it smells of a diplomatic upgrade for Taiwan.
