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

Fighting between the Tatmadaw and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) near Manlong, Kyaung Pyan villages between Kutkai and Muse, Shan State

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 5, 2021

Aung Zaw@AungZaw_AZJuly 4, Northern Shan State Fighting broke out between the dictator’s Military and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) at around 8 am on July 4 near Manlong and Kyaung Pyan villages in Kutkai Township. Artillery shells were fired from the military base. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar Gerizem TH@ThitHto66015306Clashes occured between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the…

Shan Army – South (RCSS/SSA-S) clashes with Shan Army – North(SSPP/SSA-N) + Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) in Kyaukme, northern Shan State

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 5, 2021

Hnin Oo Wai@HninOoWai55 Clashes between RCSS/SSA and SSPP/SSA,TNLA happened in Village of KyaukMe,Northern Shan State.Nearly 800 Villagers are fleeing and urgent need of food,Medical supplies and other humanitarian aids. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #July2Coup

[ Southeast Asia Globe ] Shan EAOs crucial to a federal army, but distrust and disunity reign

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 5, 2021

Fighting broke out in Kyethi Township, Loilem District, Shan State between Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) / Shan State Army – South and Shan State Progress party (SSPP) / Shan State Army – North; Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) & United Wa State Army (UWSA) troops reportedly is in the fight as well.

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 5, 2021

Matt W@mattyrwalsh According to local media and CBOs, fighting continued in Kyethi Township yesterday, June 30, between RCSS & SSPP (plus TNLA & UWSA troops allegedly in the mix). Thousands have been displaced in the area since earlier in June. The intro of UWSA troops is notable, and has been reported on by Mizzima and…

[ Shan News ] Is a proxy war starting in Shan State?

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 5, 2021

Source : https://english.shannews.org/archives/22884 The Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army ( SSPP/SSA- Wanhai) and the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army ( RCSS/SSA- Loi Tai Leng) have been fighting against each other for the control of areas in northern Shan State since 2017. Thousands have lost their lives and livelihoods due to the fighting.…

Fighting between Tatmadaw and Karenni Army reportedly broke out near Loikaw, Kayah State

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 5, 2021

Two clashes between the military council’s troop and the Karenni Army took place six kilometers from the south of Loikaw in Karenni (Kayah) on July 3. Nearby IDPs reportedly relocated. Karenni Information Center (KnIC) quoted on the ground sources as saying because troops entered the area where IDPs live KNPP opened fire on them. The…

[ WeeklyBlitz ] Rohingya militancy group ARSA silently gets organized

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 5, 2021

Dhaka Post reporters Adnan Rahman and Joshim Uddin in their report said, Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) has already recruited over two thousand members from the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, where it has approximately 150 female jihadists. Majority of the ARSA recruits are based in Kutupalong and Balukhali areas in Cox’s Bazar and Teknaf district. According…

[ Reuters ] After pressuring telecom firms, Myanmar’s junta bans executives from leaving

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 5, 2021

Senior foreign executives of major telecommunications firms in Myanmar have been told by the junta that they must not leave the country without permission, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said. A confidential order from Myanmar’s Posts and Telecommunications Department (PTD) in mid-June said senior executives, both foreigners and Myanmar nationals, must seek…

Explosion at Pazundaung Administration Office; one civilian injured

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 5, 2021

Shwe Yee@Shwitler 1 July 2021 – Bomb explosion at Pazuntaung Administration Office. One civilian trishaw man lost an arm. #Myanmar #Birmanie #Birmania #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #terrorists #NUG #PDF #NLD

Guerilla attacked a police post with an explosive device in Myaynigone, Yangon; one civilian injured

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 5, 2021

Shwe Yee@Shwitler 1 July 2021 – NLD supporting terrorists threw bomb inside the Traffic Police Station @ MyayNiGone Township, Yangon. One civilian woman was hurt. #Myanmar #Birmanie #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #Terrorists #NUG #PDF #NLD #AungSanSuKyi