Transcripts For BBCNEWS Global Questions 20240707 : vimarsan

BBCNEWS Global Questions July 7, 2024

Now on bbc news, its time for a special programme. Global questions the taiwan, china conflict. Hello, welcome to global questions with me, zeinab badawi, from Liberty Square in taipei, the capital city of taiwan. The main island of taiwan lies about 160 kilometres across the waters from china. In the past few months, china has stepped up its military exercises, and fired missiles over taiwan, in growing tensions with the government here. The chinese president , xijinping, has reiterated the claim that taiwan belongs to china, and he says he does not rule out the use of force to take it over. Meanwhile, the United States, which supports taiwan, has hardened its position with President Biden saying he would send american troops to defend it. So, if china did invade taiwan, it would be a conflict with huge global dimensions, one that involves the two superpowers, the United States and china. That is global questions, taiwan, a flashpoint with china and the world . Applause welcome to the taipei new Horizon Building. This is a lively and buzzing Cultural Centre in the heart of the city. I have a panel of top voices from across the region who are going to be answering questions from our audience here in taiwan. First of all, lets bring you this Brief Overview of the history of what is going on here in taiwan. Today, taiwan is both a powerhouse for the Global Economy and the focus for the Global Economy and the focus for an increasingly intense adversarial rivalry between china and the United States. He reviews the armed forces and the United States. He reviews the armed forces of and the United States. He reviews the Armed Forces Of China and the United States. He reviews the Armed Forces Of China from i and the United States. He reviewsl the Armed Forces Of China from his island the Armed Forces Of China from his island stronghold. The Armed Forces Of China from his island stronghold. You the Armed Forces Of China from his island stronghold. You can the Armed Forces Of China from his island stronghold. You can act the Armed Forces Of China from his island stronghold. You can act ever since island stronghold. You can act ever since the island stronghold. You can act ever since the end island stronghold. You can act ever since the end of island stronghold. You can act ever since the end of the island stronghold. You can act ever since the end of the civil island stronghold. You can act ever since the end of the civil war island stronghold. You can act ever since the end of The Civil War In since the end of The Civil War In 1949. Since the end of The Civil War In 1949,. ,. , � , since the end of The Civil War In 1949,. ,. , � ,. , 1949, when. Taiwans status has been fiercely 1949, when. Taiwans status has been fiercely contested. 1949, when. Taiwans status has been fiercely contested. Reign been fiercely contested. Reign welcome to free china. Free china, what a difference a word makes. Taiwan has been isolated. To the communists, it is a province of china that can and will be restored to beijings. To its inhabitants, it is an outpost of democracy, suggesting an Alternative Future for china as a whole. To the United States, taiwan has been a useful ally, first as part of an anti communist front in the cold war, and now as our partner in spain being chinas emerging status as a superpower rival. Despite its economic and technological process the status quo in taiwan is under pressure. It was thought it would reunite peacefully with the mainland, but now you have china saying there are storm clouds on the horizon, the president not ruling out the use of force to unify taiwan, you have many of the people here saying they want independence, a full and long term separation from the mainland, and you have the us Putting Pressure on this country to withhold high tech from china. Taiwan has become a vital player in the semiconductor sector, producing many of the worlds microchips. The prospect of serious disruption to this business, whether through war or blockade, could trigger Global Economic disaster. The us is now asking taiwan not to share some of its advanced technology with china. Add to that american warnings that the peoples republic is exhilarating preparations for invasion, and it is clear that the piece of the wider world could now be at stake. Let piece of the wider world could now be at stake piece of the wider world could now be at stake. ,. I. , be at stake. Let me introduce you to my wonderful be at stake. Let me introduce you to my wonderful panel. Be at stake. Let me introduce you to my wonderful panel. This be at stake. Let me introduce you to my wonderful panel. This is be at stake. Let me introduce you to my wonderful panel. This is a be at stake. Let me introduce you to l my wonderful panel. This is a member of the Legislative Assembly and director of International Affairs for taiwans ruling party, the dpp. He is also a member of the Diplomatic Committee that oversees Foreign Policy in taiwan. This is the International Affairs director of the opposition Chinese Nationalist party, the kmt, and is the kmt� s representative to the United States. William stanton was a us diplomat for nearly 35 years, and is one of americas top experts on taiwan. He is now a professor at a university here in taiwan. This is a chinese dissident in exile in taiwan, and is also part of the human rights commission. This woman was born in taipei, herfamily moved from mainland china, and she is currently senior china analyst at the Conflict Resolution think tank the Conflict Resolution think tank the icg. Terrific to have you all with us. That is our panel, please give them a warm round of applause. Applause. You, too, can join applause. You, too, canjoin the conversation. This is ourfirst you, too, canjoin the conversation. This is our first question. You, too, canjoin the conversation. This is ourfirst question. Charles, what is your question . This is our first question. Charles, what is your question . This is our first question. Charles, what is your question . What you make ofthe what is your question . What you make of the fact that what is your question . What you make of the fact that while what is your question . What you make of the fact that while taiwan what is your question . What you make of the fact that while taiwan is of the fact that while taiwan is likely to be a flashpoint for china and the west, the media and the public in taiwan are rather indifferent to the threat of the situation . Bike since you are from the ruling party, you can kick off. I would not use the term indifferent, i would i would not use the term indifferent, iwould not i would not use the term indifferent, i would not say people are indifferent. Taiwan has been living under threat for decades, but is a Difficult Balancing Act for the government in taiwan. 0n the one hand, we need to raise Peoples Awareness and preparedness for Military Conflict in the region, but in the other hand we do not want to scare people, because that is what china wants. Scare people, because that is what china wante china wants. You are from the opposition china wants. You are from the opposition. When china wants. You are from the opposition. When the china wants. You are from the opposition. When the outside | china wants. You are from the opposition. When the outside world had raised the opposition. When the outside world had raised the concern opposition. When the outside world had raised the concern of opposition. When the outside world had raised the concern of the had raised the concern of the chinese had raised the concern of the Chinese Military threat for the polls Chinese Military threat for the polls in Chinese Military threat for the polls in taiwan show that most of the people in taiwan are not considering the necessary vigilance is important. fire considering the necessary vigilance is important is important. Are you suggesting the are is important. Are you suggesting they are being is important. Are you suggesting they are being too is important. Are you suggesting they are being too complacent . | is important. Are you suggesting| they are being too complacent . I think people are aware of the situation, we need that kind of bowler situation, we need that kind of Popular Support in order to raise the awareness and also increase the defence the awareness and also increase the defence budget. The awareness and also increase the defence budget. Awareness of what . Awareness of defence budget. Awareness of what . Awareness of the defence budget. Awareness of what . Awareness of the possible defence budget. Awareness of what . Awareness of the possible chinese i awareness of the possible Chinese Military awareness of the possible Chinese Military coercion or possible invasion Military Coercion or possible invasion. The external danger posted on taiwan invasion. The external danger posted on taiwan. 50 invasion. The external danger posted on taiwan. , invasion. The external danger posted on taiwan. ,. On taiwan. So you do see that as a ve real on taiwan. So you do see that as a very real threat. On taiwan. So you do see that as a very realthreat. I on taiwan. So you do see that as a very real threat. I think on taiwan. So you do see that as a | very real threat. I think sometimes eole very real threat. I think sometimes pebble have very real threat. I think sometimes people have such very real threat. I think sometimes people have such a very real threat. I think sometimes people have such a good very real threat. I think sometimes people have such a good life very real threat. I think sometimes people have such a good life here, | people have such a good life here, and they people have such a good life here, and they enjoy people have such a good life here, and they enjoy their people have such a good life here, and they enjoy their life people have such a good life here, and they enjoy their life so people have such a good life here, and they enjoy their life so much, i and they enjoy their life so much, that i and they enjoy their life so much, that i think and they enjoy their life so much, that i think they and they enjoy their life so much, that i think they dont and they enjoy their life so much, that i think they dont think and they enjoy their life so much, i that i think they dont think enough about that i think they dont think enough about what that i think they dont think enough about what the that i think they dont think enough about what the potential that i think they dont think enough about what the potential risks that i think they dont think enough about what the potential risks are i about what the potential risks are and threats about what the potential risks are and threats are. About what the potential risks are and threats are. In about what the potential risks are and threats are. In my about what the potential risks are and threats are. In my class, about what the potential risks are and threats are. In my class, i about what the potential risks are and threats are. In my class, i tryj and threats are. In my class, i try to make and threats are. In my class, i try to make nty and threats are. In my class, i try to make my own and threats are. In my class, i try to make my own students and threats are. In my class, i try to make my own students aware i and threats are. In my class, i try. To make my own students aware of what to make my own students aware of what may to make my own students aware of what may be to make my own students aware of what may be coming, to make my own students aware of what may be coming, and to make my own students aware of what may be coming, and for to make my own students aware of |what may be coming, and for that| what may be coming, and for that reason what may be coming, and for that reason i what may be coming, and for that reason i encourage what may be coming, and for that reason i encourage students what may be coming, and for that reason i encourage students to. What may be coming, and for that i reason i encourage students to think more reason i encourage students to think more about reason i encourage students to think more about supporting reason i encourage students to think more about supporting the reason i encourage students to think more about supporting the military. I reason i encourage students to think | more about supporting the military. | more about supporting the military. To some more about supporting the military. To some extent more about supporting the military. To some extent i more about supporting the military. To some extent i think more about supporting the military. To some extent i think the more about supporting the military. I to some extent i think the taiwanese population is accustomed to these threats for better or worse. There is another strain of that that we have not touched upon, which is there is a degree of fatalism, sometimes when you speak to the taiwanese, there is an idea that we are caught up in this Power Struggle between two major powers, and theres not much we can do about it. Theres not much we can do to stand up theres not much we can do to stand up to the Chinese Military, and that i think is a thing that the government is trying to work on to reads consciousness around this, and to tell the taiwanese people that in fact there are things that can be done. That in fact there are things that can be done can be done. You are one of the leaders of can be done. You are one of the leaders of the can be done. You are one of the leaders of the tiananmen can be done. You are one of the | leaders of the Tiananmen Square student protests. You may still be chinas second most wanted person, and you are now a dissident in exile from the community who have had many Human Rights Abuses perpetrated against them. You go round taiwan and talk to people, what is your response to the question . I and talk to people, what is your response to the question . L and talk to people, what is your response to the question . I would not say there response to the question . I would not say there is response to the question . I would not say there is indifference, response to the question . I would not say there is indifference, but i not say there is indifference, but especially not say there is indifference, but especially after russia has invaded ukraine, especially after russia has invaded ukraine, it especially after russia has invaded ukraine, it becomes the centre of the topic, ukraine, it becomes the centre of the topic, and everyone is talking about the topic, and everyone is talking about who the topic, and everyone is talking about who is next, but i sense there is a difference between taiwanese peoples is a difference between taiwanese peoples mind compared with the world peoples mind compared with the world media. The world media seems to like world media. The world media seems to like to world media. The world media seems to like to talk about a possible invasion to like to talk about a possible invasion much more than the taiwanese people who have been living taiwanese people who have been living under this constant threat for more living under this constant threat for more than seven decades. People, of course, for more than seven decades. People, of course, are for more than seven decades. People, of course, are talking. Indifferent would of course, are talking. Indifferent would be of course, are talking. Indifferent would be a of course, are talking. Indifferent would be a wrong word to describe taiwanese would be a wrong word to describe taiwanese peoples mentality, but i think we taiwanese peoples mentality, but i think we are different from the world, think we are different from the world, especially world media. Lets face it. World, especially world media. Lets face it. It world, especially world media. Lets face it. It is world, especially world media. Lets face it, it is an interesting topic to talk face it, it is an interesting topic to talk about. fire face it, it is an interesting topic to talk about. To talk about. Are you saying i shouldnt to talk about. Are you saying i shouldnt be to talk about. Are you saying i shouldnt be here . Shouldnt be here . Laughter are you saying we are making too much of it . Let are you saying we are making too much of it . Are you saying we are making too much of it . ,. ~ much of it . Let me be clear, i think there is a clear much of it . Let me be clear, i think there is a clear threat much of it . Let me be clear, i think there is a clear threat that much of it . Let me be clear, i think there is a clear threat that the there is a clear threat that the chinese there is a clear threat that the Chinese Communist party is imposing to taiwan, Chin

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