Gordon Chang: Why Xi Jinping Lacks Authority for a Taiwan Invasion

Xi Jinping's Limited Authority Over Taiwan Invasion

• ⚠️ Gordon Chang expresses concern about China and Taiwan but does not believe an invasion of the main island is imminent.
• 🧠 The primary reason cited is that Xi Jinping lacks the current authority to order such an invasion, with generals and admirals potentially not obeying.
• 🧩 An invasion requires a combined air, land, and sea operation, necessitating the delegation of significant power to a flag officer, which Xi is unwilling to do.

Alternative Threats to Taiwan

• 📌 Chang is more concerned about China seizing Taiwan's smaller outlying islands, which are geographically close to the mainland.
• ⚡ There's also a risk of conflict escalating from China's belligerent military activity in the South China Sea.
• 💥 If such an incident spirals into war, China's internal turmoil might prevent de-escalation, leading to a wider regional conflict.
• 🌍 A conflict involving the Philippines could eventually draw in Taiwan, Russia, North Korea, and allies of the US.