DPA Projection

China Invasion of Taiwan

China Invades Taiwan
%
Possibility

PROJECTION UPDATE (13 May 2025)

China's willingness to negotiate with USA on trade reduce risk of war against Taiwan...
  • 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)

Risk of China Invasion of Taiwan is increasing...
  • 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)

Trump Administration (USA) take actions to redefine the US-led world trading/economic order.
  • 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)

USA now sees Deterring China take over of Taiwan as a Military Priority.
  • 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

The lack of leadership in the UN exposed by the Myanmar crisis

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 29, 2021

As the monsoon season hits Myanmar, floods turning the plight of the Burmese facing the double threat of both persecution by the military-rules regime and COVID-19 virus into a hellish triple threat. Despite the obvious problem with the military overthrowing the election results, and mandating a one year postponement of a re-election (which there is…

[ The Guardian ] ‘It’s too late’: US doctor says dying patients begging for Covid vaccine

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 24, 2021

What the US government is calling “the pandemic of the unvaccinated” is playing out in painful ways as some realize too late that they wish they had had the shot, while others hold out even as they suffer in hospital amid a national surge of new Covid-19 infections, primarily caused by the Delta variant. At…

[ The Guardian ] Death toll rises and thousands flee homes as floods hit China

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 22, 2021

Days of torrential rain and massive flooding have hit China’s Henan province, bursting the banks of rivers, overwhelming dams and the public transport system and forcing thousands of people to evacuate their homes. At least 25 people have been killed and seven are missing in the provincial capital, Zhengzhou.The provincial authorities issued its highest level…

Myanmar Reports: 15 – 21 July 2021

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 21, 2021

Myanmar – #Kokang Army / #Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (#MNDAA) defeated the #Tatmadaw in #Monekoe, #MuSe Township, northern #Shan State, killing 7 junta soldiers and confiscated ammunitions including mortar shells and RPGs – #Chinland Defense Force announced a new unit in #Matupi Township, #Chin State – #CDF-Matupi, which will operate alongside Chin National Front…

Kokang Army / Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) defeated the Tatmadaw in Monekoe, Mu Se Township, northern Shan State, killing 7 junta soldiers and confiscated ammunitions including mortar shells and RPGs

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 21, 2021

Thet Hnin@ThetHnin091 Fighting broke out between the Kokang Army (MNDAA) and the military council in Mong Ko, Muse Township, northern Shan State, killing seven SAC soldiers and confiscating large quantities of ammunition. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #July18Coup

[ The Irrawaddy ] Silence on Coup Makes Strategic Sense for Myanmar’s Wa

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 21, 2021

On March 25, 10 Wa civil society organizations, among them the Tang-yan Wa Youth Network, university students from the Wa Christian Fellowship and the Wa Women’s Network, sent an open letter to the UWSP/UWSA leadership urging them to say something about the killings and to publicize their stand on the movement for federal democracy. That…

Chinland Defense Force announced a new unit in Matupi Township, Chin State – CDF-Matupi, which will operate alongside Chin National Front (CNF) and other CDFs

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 21, 2021

Chin World Media@media_chin The CDF announced the formation of the Chinland Defense Force in Matupi Township, Chin State. The statement said the CDF-Matupi was formed on 16 July and will launch operations in Chin State together with Chin National Front (CNF) and other CDFs. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar

Fighting between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Tatmadaw near Sai Fara village, Hpakant Township, Kachin State

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 21, 2021

Thet Hnin @ThetHnin0915d At 4 PM today,,near #SaiFara Village, Hpakant Township, #Kachin State.Fighting between the #KIA and the military council resumed. Five artillery shells landed in the vicinity of Sai Fara village after heavy artillery fire from a military base in #NangYa village. #July16Coup

Tatmadaw reportedly threatened Hpakant township with artillery strikes should they allow the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) into their villages

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 21, 2021

Kind Monster@Kind___Monster Myanmar Military Threatens To Bomb Villages in Hpakant Township (Thd. 1/5) Ref: Kachin News Group The Myanmar Military threatened local leaders in Hpa Kant tsp that they will launch artillery attacks if the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) visits their villages. According to a man close to the village administration committee, the military issued…

Tatmadaw launches offensive in Bawlakhe township, Kayah State against Karrenni Army (KA) and Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF)

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 21, 2021

Civilians have fled advancing Burma Army (BA) troops following fighting with Karenni Army (KA) and Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) in Bawlakhe and Hprasu townships.