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
Military fired at group of youths on motorcycle on Aung Sang Road, Kyaukme town, Shan state; 2 youths are shot and taken.
Kaung Pyae Soneshein@kpsskaungpyaeMilitary terrorists opened gunfires at a group of youths on motorcycles on Aung San Road, Kyaukmae last night. Two youths got shot in the arms causing severe injuries and abducted. #CrimesAgainstHumanity#June21Coup#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
Military forces raided and pillaged Kawe Chaung village, Yinmarbin District, Sagaing
Khant Zaw Naing@KhantZawNaing8 Loads of military terrorists in 2 vehicles arrived Kwaychaung village, Yinmarpin district at 6am in the morning and pillaged some houses since 8am. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar#June21Coup#CrimesAgainstHumanity
[ Eurasian Times ] China Admits Its Top Air Force Pilots Defeated By ‘Adversaries’ In Fighter Jet Dogfight
A mock combat exercise was held in which AI-enabled opponents outperformed many of the PLA Air Force pilots. According to the GT report, China has been investing heavily in AI and machine learning. This concept is now taking shape in the country’s military training as well. The AI-based aerial combat training simulator was reportedly developed…
[ National Interest ] F-35: How This Stealth Fighter Dominates Every Wargame It ‘Fights’ In
“Even in this extremely challenging environment, the F-35 didn’t have many difficulties doing its job,” said Col. Joshua Wood, 388th Operations Group commander. “That’s a testament to the pilot’s training and the capabilities of the jet.” As with the 2017 exercises, F-35 pilots raved about the fighter’s survivability and sensor fusion capabilities. “With stealth, the F-35 can…
Canada to begin negotiations with Indonesia on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
News release June 20, 2021 – Ottawa, Canada – Global Affairs Canada The Government of Canada is committed to building back from COVID-19 and deepening trade and investment ties with fast-growing markets around the world will generate growth, create jobs, and ensure a strong, resilient economic recovery. Today, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small…
[ CNA / AP ] Debate over Myanmar upends start to UN rights body session
The United Nations’ top human rights body opened its latest session on Monday (Jun 21) and was immediately embroiled in a debate over the representation of Myanmar, where a military takeover toppled the civilian government in February. Western countries said that two planned debates about the human rights situation in Myanmar at the Human Rights Council’s…
[ The ASEAN Post ] Myanmar Leader In Moscow For Security Conference
Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing left the capital Naypyidaw Sunday on a special flight to attend the Moscow Conference for International Security, state-run MRTV said. He was attending at “the invitation of Russian Defence Minister,” it said, adding he had been “greeted” by the Russian ambassador to Myanmar at the airport. It did not give…
[ SCMP ] China tells its nationals to leave Afghanistan urgently as violence spirals
Citizens and organisations should strengthen emergency preparedness with security situation ‘becoming more severe and complicated’, Chinese embassy says Withdrawal of US and Nato troops has been blamed by Beijing for a wave of attacks Beijing has warned Chinese nationals to leave Afghanistan as soon as possible, amid a rapid rise in violence in the country as the…
[ Politico ] White House freezes Ukraine military package that includes lethal weapons
“The Biden White House has temporarily halted a military aid package to Ukraine that would include lethal weapons, a plan originally made in response to aggressive Russian troop movements along Ukraine’s border this spring. The aid package would be worth up to $100 million, according to four people familiar with internal deliberations. The National Security…
UN General Assembly voted 199-1 (36 abstain) to call for an end to arms sales to Myanmar’s military junta.
UNGA adopted resolution with an overwhelming vote to denounce arm sales to Myanmar’s military in the light of the military coup and violence. “The risk of a large-scale civil war is real. Time is of the essence. The opportunity to reverse the military takeover is narrowing.” UN special envoy on Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener, told…

