Should the West be worried about China military exercises around Taiwan? | Michael Reilly

"Everybody has to be worried about it. It's obviously a very tense situation."

PLA's exercises after Pelosi's Taiwan visit are "a very great show of strength to say to the US 'Don't try doing again what you did in 1996', says former British ambassador to Taiwan Michael Reilly.

---
Times Radio brings you the latest breaking news, expert analysis and well-informed discussion on the biggest stories of the day.

Follow Times Radio on social:

🔵 Facebook

🔵 Twitter

🔵 Instagram

[philm]

Every other nation recognized the sovereignty of Ukraine. A whole lot of good it did them. Only the threat of a military response combined with China’s realization that their military is not any better than Russia’s will make them think twice about military action.

[frankmurphy]

Please stop the pointless annoying repeating part of the talk at the start

[lgflanang]

Rolling into another country, Ukraine, is easier than swimming across a 100 km body of water? It is suicidal at the least.

[DezorianGuy]

Thank you for not repeating parts of the video.

[kanweiwu]

Taiwanese, except the aborigines native Taiwanese with less than 2% of population, are ethnically and culturally Han Chinese. The present name for their country is the Republic of China.

[redhammer]

Good interview, if I may add. Going back several months when Russia placed it's army on the Ukraine border China sent in a powerful show of air force power right up to Thaiwan's air space. At the time Russia and China had stated their collective resolve to defy America's grip on the global order. Weeks later the North Korean leader dramatically rode his highly symbolic white horse to demonstrate a great decision was made. Soon after that two further event's occurred. His sister disappeared for several months from the scene and then the military parade where he showed off his mobile multihead intercontinental nuclear ballistic missiles, all no doubt owned and controlled by China or Russia. To me it was a Bay of Pigs moment that went unnoticed in the Western media and nothing said politically. In my humble view WW3 started then. What followed was Russia invaded Ukraine that is currently poised near Odessa. Serbia purchased considerable numbers of Chinese weapons and today there is considerable concern for an escalation of conflict in the region. That, if it was to escalate, would trigger a conflict with NATO. With Europe including the US bogged down with a war with Russia the balance of power for China improves considerably. Should North Korea attack the south US forces will have another major battle front and again China's military position will be improved. Given the detirorrating situation in the Middle East between Israel and Iran, another battle front for the US, and given the ties between Iran Russia and China and with Afghanistan a basket case the scene is set for a war to end all wars. Personally I'm just gathering up some sticks and stones, I sense I'll need them because it won't end well for anyone.

[phil_]

While you worry, I drink coffee and check my gear.

[nottooherbal]

Why do we always have to hear part of the Interview repeated ?

[afriedrich]

As was pointed out in another video, I forget by who, ambiguity serves two purposes. 1) It stops Taiwan from getting too cocky and starting a war on their own, and 2) It stops Taiwan from relying solely on the US for their defense. Taiwan needs to step up efforts at self defense.

[maryclynch]

No. The little Chinese prince soldiers will not want to die.
The mothers and fathers who have only one son will not risk their

[willjennings]

Now, I think that the Chinese military is bluffing their strength, because of the grammatical error where an adjective is replaced by a noun.

[mikegallegos]

I am not worried: they will spend a ton of money they do not have ...

[vinm]

Great news for Russian soldiers : 4 more Himars arrived this week.
That means the war will soon be over, and they can go home.
Himar package = 1 vehicle and 100 rockets ($15 million)
There are 16 Himars in Ukraine (allow me to do the math)
16 Himars = 1600 rockets That is quite a hammering for the Russians.

[ThePierre]

Michael Reilly has written an excellent book about Taiwans narrow gauge railway.

[DaBearsGG]

I absolutely HATE how all these Times Radio clips have a repeat section in them... its ridiculously amateurish editing.

[Carolina_Panthers]

No need to worry china not invading anybody

[Nik]

Xi Jinping all talk.... life go's go...!!!

[richardwallinger]

The Chinese is telegraphing their intentions and layout .. perfect . all of that noise makes subs pretty well undetectable .

[truegunner]

It seems the Taiwanese leaders are in cahoot with USA backers a la Ukraine ...they would flee for their safety as soon as they are under any personal danger leaving the rest of the population to fend for themselves.

[aaranjackson]

west says ' miscalculation '

vladimir putin hears ' lawful excuse / legal loophole '