DPA Projection
China Invasion of Taiwan
PROJECTION UPDATE (13 May 2025)
- In a surprise U-turn by China, after strong words of not talking to USA or negotiating with USA without USA first eliminating their tariffs on China, China delegation met with USA delegation at Geneva, Switzerland between 10-12 May 2025.
- China and USA both agree to drop reciprocal-retaliation tariffs to 10% for 90 days - effectively setting the minimum tariff on each sides to 10% vs 30%. Read more about the deal here.
- The softening stance by China may be a signal of prioritization over stabilizing internal economic problems over challenging US hegemony - thus reducing the threat of using war on Taiwan to militarily-strategically defeat US influence/presence in the region.
- DPA assess the risk to drop from 50% to 40% - given the trade war respite is only for 90 days - and with the nearly insurmountable economic challenge facing China internally, China may not necessarily be able to offer a deal that USA want, and the high tariffs may return after the end of the 90 days.
PROJECTION UPDATE (7 April 2025)
- Trump administration's "New World Order" via international trade and economic reforms have a strong leaning towards isolating China or to force China to reform its economic policies.
- China is unlikely and possibly, literally unable to accede to any of the demands of Trump due to internal economic turmoil/problems.
- China's economic stability/growth is entirely underpinned by the enormous export numbers, and the export have to continue to grow in order to keep up with management of the enormous debt and poor internal economic situation - any reduction to export would hit twice as hard on China than usual for any other countries.
- The most opportune time frame / window to invade Taiwan has closed tremendously due to Trump's election:Trump has revigorated the US military recruitment & focus, massive investment into US military as well as remedying US military weakness, including investment into 6th Gen fighters, reinvestment in ship building as well as bringing back manufacturing that could improve US's war time production.
- China's military advantage on the Taiwan straits will be reduced with every passing month, as USA will complete its full redeployment/focus of its military from Europe to Asia, as well as introduction of new weaponry that is being ordered into production right now.
- If China's economic situation gets heavily hit by Trump economic/trade war assaults (especially Trump successfully gets many countries to cut/reduce trade with China) - China economic turmoil may create a lot more internal political problems than the Communist Party could deal with - which makes an invasion of Taiwan very unpopular with the citizens, whose concerns may be more on economic issues.
- Which again means that the only time frame in which China could launch an invasion with popular support would be, BEFORE such economic problem occur.
- China could also use "a war" in Taiwan to create a massive disruption, in order to fight off Trump's trade/economic offensive; similar to China's deliberate attempt to allow Covid-19 to go global to starve off the 2020 trade war situation, which China was losing/on the back foot.
- An invasion of Taiwan would also put Trump in a bad spot, as Trump runs on a no-war position - a prolonged military campaign in Taiwan stretching to the mid-terms in the US, could also potentially cause the Republican Party to lose either the House or Senate, crippling Trump's ability to conduct further effective reforms/actions in the USA.
- An invasion of Taiwan, would also test the will of USA to defend Taiwan - on top of that, the will of Japan, South Korea and the rest of US-allies/partners to side of USA on the conflict.
- Failure of the allies and partners to answer US' call to action to help defend Taiwan would effectively destroy US prestige and global leadership for good.
KEYSTONE DEVELOPMENT (2 April 2025)
- USA slaps minimum 10% tariff on all countries
- Tariff on China imports is now at 54%, putting tremendous pressure on Chinese imports into USA
- All countries are likely to enter trade negotiations with Trump.
- China had retaliated against the US "Liberation Day" tariff by announcing 34% tariff on all US goods. Including 10%-15% duties on certain products, certain products may now have 49% tariff.
DPA Projection (7 April 2025):
DPA believe that Trump administration, with the intention to prevent Chinese goods from avoiding the tariff via 3rd country, will force every country, particularly Mexico, Canada, Vietnam, Indonesia, etc... to either cut/reduce trade with China, or risk having the tariff stay at current high numbers (as per announced on 2nd April 2025 aka Liberation Day).
DEVELOPMENT (March 2025)
- A confidential Pentagon memo revealed that deterring a Chinese takeover of Taiwan has become a U.S. military priority. This aligns with proposals to reallocate defense resources, potentially increasing funding for commands focused on China.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the United States is "no longer primarily focused" on Europe's security and emphasized that European nations need to assume greater responsibility for their own defense. This shift allows the U.S. to reallocate military resources toward addressing challenges in Asia, particularly concerning China's growing influence.
- Vice President JD Vance echoed this sentiment at the 2024 Munich Security Conference, asserting that the U.S. must prioritize East Asia and that European countries should increase their defense spending to ensure their own security.
- Reports suggest that the U.S. is considering adjusting the role of its forces stationed in South Korea, shifting focus from deterring North Korea to addressing broader regional challenges, particularly concerning China.
DPA Projection (7 April 2025):
DPA assess that we will soon be seeing increased military deployments to US bases in the Asia Pacific in the near future.
However, this will likely only happen after USA resolves the immediate problems with Iran as well as with the Houthis in Yemen.
Projection Archives
AUKUS trilateral security partnership is now a thing
Australia, United Kingdom and the United States announces on 15 September 2021 at the White House, that the 3 countries will now form a new trilateral security partnership called AUKUS. The partnership will allow scientists, industries and defense forces from the 3 countries to work together. The cooperation will include cyber technologies, artificial intelligence, quantum…
[ PNA ] PH can’t get F-16 jets for now due to budget woes
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Thursday said the Philippines is unlikely to acquire Lockheed Martin F-16 jet fighters for its multi-role fighter (MFR) program for now due to budgetary constraints. “For now, it is very unlikely that we will be able to acquire F-16s as our budget for (the MRF project) will only allow us…
[ The Sydney Morning Herald ] Australia, the US and UK to announce landmark new defence pact
Australia, the United States and Britain will unveil a landmark new security pact to share advanced technologies, including nuclear submarine technology, in a major international announcement on Thursday morning. As part of the pact, to be known as AUKUS, the US would help Australia develop a nuclear submarine capability, which could result in Australia dumping…
[ Business Insider ] First US Navy carrier strike group to deploy with F-35C stealth fighters sails into the South China Sea
The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group sailed into the South China Sea this week carrying stealth fighters. The Carl Vinson is the first US Navy aircraft carrier to deploy with F-35Cs. Chinese state-affiliated media criticized the carrier’s arrival, calling it a “provocative deployment.” A deployed US Navy aircraft carrier sailed into the South China Sea…
India militarises highways as emergency landing strips; 20 under construction
Indian Air Force (IAF) is currently constructing/repurposing 20 stretches of national highway as emergency landing strips, with the first just completed in January this year. This is announced at Barmer by India’s Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari where they inaugurate the first of its kind at Satta-Gandhav stretch of the National Highway 925 on…
[ TODAY / AFP ] North Korea test-fires new ‘long-range cruise missile’: KCNA
North Korea test-fired a new “long-range cruise missile” over the weekend, state media reported Monday, calling it a “strategic weapon of great significance” amid a long standoff with the United States over its nuclear programme. The test launches took place on Saturday and Sunday, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. The missiles travelled…
Philippines Air Force to decide between the Fighting Eagle (FA-50PH) and the Fighting Falcon (F-16C/D)?
On June 24 this year (2021), US State Department had approved the sale of 12 x F16 Block 70/72 fighters to the Philippines – 10 x single seat F16C and 2 x two seater F16D…. although collectively, Block 70/72 are also known as F16V “Vipers”. However, the Philippines defense secretary, Delfin Lorenzano told the Philippines…
Singapore to donate 60,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to Batam, Indonesia
According the Antara News, the Batam Mayor Muhammad Rudi announced that Singapore government plans to provide 60,000 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to the Singapore’s neighbouring island of Batam, a major city of Riau Islands, Indonesia. According to the Mayor, Singapore’s requirement for reopening of the Batam-Singapore border depends on Batam reaching 80% vaccination of…
[ RT ] The last pipe of Russia’s Nord Stream 2 has been welded, operator announces
The final pipe of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project has been welded and will be lowered into the seabed of the Baltic Sea, the operator of the Russian project, Nord Stream 2 AG, said on Monday. According to the company, it will now dock the German section with the Danish one and will proceed…
[ Manila Times ] 2 ranking NPA leaders surrender in Isabela
Local supporters of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) have turned over their firearms following the surrender of two high ranking NPA rebels to the Army’s Fifth Infantry Division (5th ID), according to Maj. Jekyll Julian Dulawan, 5th ID public affairs officer. In a report released on Tuesday, Dulawan said Alias Rence and Alias Maki, both…

