Taiwan fears China invasion is looming

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has drawn a stark comparison between Taiwan’s current situation and the geopolitical tensions of the 1930s, warning of parallels to the years leading up to World War II.

Speaking on the 80th anniversary of the Allied victory in World War II, Lai addressed foreign dignitaries in Taipei as China continues to ramp up its military presence around the island.

“Eighty years after the end of the European war, the message of history is clear. Today, 80 years later, we share the same values and face similar challenges as many of the democracies that participated in the European war,” he said.

Lai also called on “freedom-loving people and countries” to stand up to authoritarian regimes, issuing a pointed warning against appeasement.

“Taiwan and Europe are jointly facing the threat of a new totalitarian group. The bitter experience of World War II tells us that appeasement will only make the invaders more greedy and expand their ambitions,” he added.

While the United States has long supported Taiwan in the face of Chinese aggression, the arrival of Donald Trump back in the White House this January has brought uncertainty to Washington’s current approach to cross-strait tensions.

(QG - Source: The Guardian — Picture : © Unsplash)