Blow to Beijing as Taiwan chooses candidate Xi fears the most | Battle Lines Podcast

In this bonus episode of Battle Lines, we take a look at the Taiwanese election, and what it means for the region, with Asia Correspondent Nicola Smith and Senior Foreign Correspondent Sophia Yan.
Taiwan, which the Chinese Communist Party claims as its own territory, represents one of the world’s most dangerous flashpoints, with the potential to ignite a global war.
The general election is one of the most consequential of the 70+ polls being held around the world this year, determining how the island of 23.5 million people will manage its ties with China over the next four years.
Contributors:
David Knowles (Host). @djknowles22 on X.
Sophia Yan (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @sophia_yan on X.
Nicola Smith (Asia Correspondent). @niccijsmith on X.
Read
China must ‘win the hearts’ of the Taiwanese, says Xi, by Nicola Smith: www.telegraph.co.uk/world-new...
Nauru cuts ties with Taiwan as China accused of bribery, by Nicola Smith: www.telegraph.co.uk/world-new...
For 3 months access to The Telegraph for just £1: www.telegraph.co.uk/audio |
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[@user-sz1lz1zq8y]

It is such a gift to the world that The Telegraph has given us both "Ukraine The Latest" and "Battle Lines." Thank you from Washington state in the USA. I am much better informed because of you.

[@gogudelagaze1585]

What makes it even stranger is that the rest of the Telegraph is quite frankly awful and unreliable as a news source, while these two are exceptionally well done. I continue to be astounded by this contrast.

[@m.h.english4773]

Your guests framed the Taiwan conflict nicely. Despite Mainland China’s, “slow creep” (which ebbs and flows), the slogan, “Ukraine Today, Taiwan Tomorrow” really says it all. The question listeners should be asking at this point is if China gets away with invading Taiwan, who’s next on China’s list? China’s “Nine Dash Line” around the South China Sea someone astutely pointed out is now a, “Ten Dash Line”. In light of this, where is the rest of the World going to draw the line with China that they are not supposed to cross?

[@amunra5330]

The good news is that China will NEVER invade Taiwan. Also, China is not a warmongering nation like the US and its lap-dog the UK. So I think it's safe to say the world will be fine once China replaces the US as the number one superpower.

[@Paulus8765]

Great to learn something about Taiwan.

[@MROJPC]

Superb program and Ukraine the Latest is most definitely one of the broadcasts I listen to regularly. I wish we had a US media source that lent this appropriate amount of attention to the consequential topics. As a comment I would say that I would be extremely pleased if the CCP would let the question of unification play out over a century without resorting to an invasion… I would also say that our strength and resolve in the west is what helps ensure that the relationship between both nations, China and Taiwan, remains peaceful.

[@TheLatiosnlatias02]

Israel and US wanted to destroy Russia, so they established a proxy rule in Ukraine. US want to destroy China, so they established a proxy rule in Taiwan. US want to destroy North Korea, so they established a proxy rule in South Korea and Japan.

[@ToysandUnboxHub]

they voted the right leader

[@TheLatiosnlatias02]

Lai Ching-te, an East Asian version of Zelensky, demented Biden and toilet Sunak...

[@joshuachapman247]

Can you do an update on the Myanmar Civil war?

[@julientyt]

It’s not the democracy in Taiwan is messing bc the parliamentary election result. On the contrary, that’s on many voters mind to create a balanced, power checking dynamic.

[@BeautifulIndia2356]

Taiwan number 🐸

[@ostevoostevo1592]

Nobody has ever swum to the main island of Taiwan.( 19:00 ) The Taiwan Straight is actually quite wide, 110 km. A couple of Chinese men have managed to swim to Taiwan controlled islands near China. So Ms. Yan is exaggerating the closeness of Taiwan to China. Interesting podcast. I'm an expat of over three decades in Taiwan and Ms. Smith described the election rallies and atmosphere here very well. Yes, only a tiny percentage of people here want unification with the PRC, and they are mostly elderly people who arrived with Chiang Kaishek and the KMT at the end of the civil war in China.

[@Mr_Squiggle]

Technology is driven by ideology. It does not and would not take much to design construct and build devices to transit underwater the Taiwan Straight. Japan etc in WW2 build underwater torpedos manned by a pilot, add a few seats and mass production, China's speciality, and that straight is not so wide. Loss of life is not of concern to Xi/CCP. 10,000 survivors of 100,000 is not if concern, victory, face and self survival is of most import. Therefore, it is more chance of success than cost - look at Russia.

[@ganboonmeng5370]

Last year a Taiwanese soldier swam to the mainland with his rifle...yes..a small % outright wanted reunification especially the islanders of Kinmen...but majority also do not consider fighting an option...the current DPP president is a minority president...he don't even command the vote in the legislation..or City Council...

[@dkwlin4351]

Ukraine the Latest 🇺🇦 Battle Lines 🇮🇱 The New Podcast about Strait🇹🇼🤔

[@TheLatiosnlatias02]

Israel is behind Ukrainian war. Western-Israeli MSM, The Telegraph, Yahoo, Daily Mail, CNN, ABC, BBC, CBC, Kan 11, UATV, Radio Free Asia, DW, France 24, i24 news, are spinning this as the Taiwanese people chose the separatists. Nothing could be further from the truth! The opposite actually: Nearly 2/3's voted AGAINST the separatist DPP party. The trouble is that their votes were split between two candidates -- so the DPP won with only 40% of the vote.

[@garymoore5005]

bully afraid of people having a say,of there own lives.

[@TheLatiosnlatias02]

Like Israel and US