China’s takeover of Hong Kong, and its increasingly aggressive military manoeuvres in the South China Sea have many wondering whether Taiwan is the country’s next “reunification” target. While politicians debate whether it’s in the West’s interest to step in, strategists say the more pertinent question is whether a military defence of Taiwan is even possible. China now boasts the world’s largest army, conventional air force, coast guard, and navy. These vast military resources provide Beijing with the capacity to overwhelm Taiwan through a combined amphibious assault using nuclear attack submarines, destroyers, and aircraft carriers, and an airborne assault using strategic stealth bombers, fighters, and helicopters. Some experts argue that it is wishful to think that the US can defend Taiwan militarily from half a world away unless there is a radical reset of American military strategy and posture towards China. But others contend that despite China’s clear military superiority over Taiwan, the island nation enjoys many advantages when it comes to fending off an invasion. Taiwan’s unique geography and navigational challenges of the Taiwan Strait mean that an amphibious invasion is a daunting task even for a navy the size of China’s.  The country has one of the best early warning systems in the world, and combat aircraft sequestered in mountain locations across the island that could repulse a large scale airborne assault. The almost two million Taiwanese who are trained to defend the country - guerrilla tactics included - vastly outnumber any possible Chinese invasion force. Add in US aircraft carriers, ballistic missiles, armed drones, and high tech minefields, and a Chinese military conquest of Taiwan could end up handing Beijing its biggest military defeat since WWII.

Arguing for the motion is Oriana Skylar Mastro. She’s a Center Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University and a Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. She is the author of "The Costs of Conversation: Obstacles to Peace Talks in Wartime".

Arguing against the motion is Michael Beckley, Associate Professor at Tufts University near Boston, and also a Visiting Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. He is the author of "Unrivaled: Why America Will Remain the World’s Sole Superpower".

Sources: Formosa TV English News, CNA, Arirang News, ABC News, Senator Tom Cotton, BBC News, US GEGE, CGTN, France 24, RTI

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths - @rudyardg.  

Tweet your comments about this episode to @munkdebate or comment on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/munkdebates/

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This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue - https://munkdebates.com/

The Munk Debates podcast is produced by Antica, Canada’s largest private audio production company - https://www.anticaproductions.com/

 

Executive Producer: Stuart Coxe, CEO Antica Productions

Senior Producer: Christina Campbell

Editor: Kieran Lynch

Associate Producer: Abhi Raheja

China&rsquo;s takeover of Hong Kong, and its increasingly aggressive military manoeuvres in the South&nbsp;China Sea have many wondering whether Taiwan is the country&rsquo;s next &ldquo;reunification&rdquo; target.&nbsp;While politicians debate whether it&rsquo;s in the West&rsquo;s interest to step in, strategists say the more&nbsp;pertinent question is whether a military defence of Taiwan is even possible. China now boasts the&nbsp;world&rsquo;s largest army, conventional air force, coast guard, and navy. These vast military resources&nbsp;provide Beijing with the capacity to overwhelm Taiwan through a combined amphibious assault&nbsp;using nuclear attack submarines, destroyers, and aircraft carriers, and an airborne assault using&nbsp;strategic stealth bombers, fighters, and helicopters. Some experts argue that it is wishful to think&nbsp;that the US can defend Taiwan militarily from half a world away unless there is a radical reset of&nbsp;American military strategy and posture towards China. But others contend that despite China&rsquo;s&nbsp;clear military superiority over Taiwan, the island nation enjoys many advantages when it comes to&nbsp;fending off an invasion. Taiwan&rsquo;s unique geography and navigational challenges of the Taiwan&nbsp;Strait mean that an amphibious invasion is a daunting task even for a navy the size of China&rsquo;s.&nbsp; The&nbsp;country has one of the best early warning systems in the world, and combat aircraft sequestered&nbsp;in mountain locations across the island that could repulse a large scale airborne assault. The&nbsp;almost two million Taiwanese who are trained to defend the country - guerrilla tactics included - vastly outnumber any possible Chinese invasion force. Add in US aircraft carriers, ballistic missiles,&nbsp;armed drones, and high tech minefields, and a Chinese military conquest of Taiwan could end up&nbsp;handing Beijing its biggest military defeat since WWII.
Arguing for the motion is Oriana Skylar Mastro. She&rsquo;s a Center Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University and a Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. She is the author of "<a href="https://www.aei.org/research-products/book/the-costs-of-conversation-obstacles-to-peace-talks-in-wartime/">The Costs of Conversation: Obstacles to Peace Talks in Wartime"</a>.
Arguing against the motion is Michael Beckley, Associate Professor at Tufts University near Boston, and also a Visiting Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. He is the author of "Unrivaled: Why America Will Remain the World&rsquo;s Sole Superpower".
Sources: Formosa TV English News, CNA, Arirang News, ABC News, Senator Tom Cotton, BBC News, US GEGE, CGTN, France 24, RTI
The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths -&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/rudyardg">@rudyardg</a>. &nbsp;
Tweet your comments about this episode to&nbsp;<a href="about:blank">@munkdebate</a>&nbsp;or comment on our Facebook page&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/munkdebates/">https://www.facebook.com/munkdebates/</a>
To sign up for a weekly email reminder for this podcast, send an email to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:podcast@munkdebates.com">podcast@munkdebates.com</a>. &nbsp;
To support civil and substantive debate on the big questions of the day, consider becoming a Munk Member at&nbsp;<a href="https://munkdebates.com/membership">https://munkdebates.com/membership</a>
Members receive access to our 10+ year library of great debates in HD video, a free Munk Debates book, newsletter and ticketing privileges at our live events.
This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue -&nbsp;<a href="https://munkdebates.com/">https://munkdebates.com/</a>
The Munk Debates podcast is produced by Antica, Canada&rsquo;s largest private audio production company -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.anticaproductions.com/">https://www.anticaproductions.com/</a>
&nbsp;
Executive Producer: Stuart Coxe, CEO Antica Productions
Senior Producer: Christina Campbell
Editor: Kieran Lynch
Associate Producer: Abhi Raheja

The Munk Debates podcast is an extension of the main stage events - in subject, speaker selection, tone and format. It will introduce the iconic brand - and its engaging debates about significant issues of our time. Audiences will hear strong and passionate arguments from both sides of an issue so they will have enough information to make up their own minds about where they stand.

The Munk Debates podcast is an extension of the main stage events - in subject, speaker selection, tone and format. It will introduce the iconic brand - and its engaging debates about significant issues of our time. Audiences will hear strong and passionate arguments from both sides of an issue so they will have enough information to make up their own minds about where they stand.

The Munk Debates Podcast

The Munk Debates Podcast is dedicated to convening civil and substantive debates and dialogues on the big issues of the day. Each debate features two compelling thinkers debating a topic driving the public conversation. Each dialogue features world-renowned thinkers offering unique insight into the issues affecting us most. The podcast is an extension of the charitable Munk Debates' commitment to pushing back against the political polarization and restoring the art of public debate in our time. For more information about the Munk Debates visit www.munkdebates.com/podcast

The Munk Debates Podcast is dedicated to convening civil and substantive debates and dialogues on the big issues of the day. Each debate features two compelling thinkers debating a topic driving the public conversation. Each dialogue features world-renowned thinkers offering unique insight into the issues affecting us most. The podcast is an extension of the charitable Munk Debates' commitment to pushing back against the political polarization and restoring the art of public debate in our time. For more information about the Munk Debates visit www.munkdebates.com/podcast

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