An unorthodox way to ease China Taiwan tensions

It is widely speculated that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) may attempt to invade Taiwan at some point in the future. However, the exact timing of such an invasion remains unknown and unpredictable. Predictions of a potential invasion have been made for several years, with some news outlets and think tanks offering specific timelines.

For instance, in 2013, Reuters predicted an invasion by 2020, while the Global Taiwan Institute suggested in a 2019 article that an invasion could happen in 2019, 2020, 2021, or 2023. Recently, there have been reports, citing CIA information, that an invasion may occur in 2027. However, even this date is uncertain, as the CIA has expressed some doubts about its accuracy.

It is worth noting, however, that some experts argue that an invasion may not happen at all. For instance, a recent article in Foreign Affairs presents this perspective.

Will China go to war?

The tensions between China and Taiwan have been ongoing, and the issue will eventually need to be resolved. However, a peaceful solution that benefits everyone is possible. A war would be too risky for China and could result in sanctions and international troubles, while it would be terrifying for the Taiwanese people.

Fake the invasion of Taiwan

Instead, a more creative solution could be pursued, such as staging a fake invasion of Taiwan. This approach could avoid the negative consequences of a real war, while allowing Taiwan to remain a free country and offering Xi the opportunity to be seen as a hero and secure his place in the history books.
The idea of faking a war to improve the reputation of a political leader was explored in the 1997 movie “Wag the Dog,” which starred Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro.

How shall this work?

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has complete control over the news and media in China, allowing them to produce fake news and convince Chinese citizens that Taiwan will soon reunite with China. With advanced technology like artificial intelligence, CGI effects, and deep fakes, it’s possible to create convincing videos of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in action, making them look like an unbeatable force. This approach can also be used to make the Taiwanese and US armies appear weaker than they are.

After a “fake war” and the “fake conquest” of Taiwan, Xi could present himself as the paramount leader who achieved the Chinese dream, providing the CCP with propaganda material for decades and legitimizing Xi’s rule until his death. Since no actual war occurred, there would be no international backlash, and the CCP could convince its citizens that China did the right thing. This plan offers significant advantages and is a remarkable feat, isn’t it?

But what if people from China want to see Taiwan?

If Chinese citizens wish to travel to Taiwan, there could be a potential obstacle. However, a possible solution to this could be to create a replica of Taiwan within China itself. With China being 265 times larger than Taiwan, there should be ample space to create a replica of the island.

In fact, China has already begun constructing a mock version of various parts of downtown Taipei in Inner Mongolia, including the Presidential Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Why not expand on this idea and build a replica of the entire island or at least some of its major cities and popular tourist spots?

China is renowned as master in copying things and has replicated several famous landmarks from across the globe, such as the Austrian Hallstatt in Huizhou, Guangdong Province, the Eiffel Tower and segments of downtown Paris in Tianducheng, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, and Thames Town near Shanghai, which is modeled after British towns. Additionally, the Ju Jun residential area in northern Beijing imitates the expensive houses of an American suburb in Orange County.

These replicas serve as impressive feats of architectural imitation. This initiative has also the potential to significantly enhance the construction and real estate sectors, creating a boost in economic growth.

The perfect solution

While some may perceive the idea as unconventional or even absurd, it could potentially benefit all parties involved in a mutually advantageous way. The Chinese will get what they want. The Taiwanese can keep what they love, and nobody will get hurt.

Happy April Fool’s Day!