Trending Globally: How Taiwan became “the most dangerous flashpoint in the world”

This Spring, visiting professor at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs’ China Initiative Lyle Goldstein made his first trip to China in five years. He met with military strategists, government officials and scholars to try to better understand China-Russia relations in the wake of the war in Ukraine.
He left more concerned about another part of the world just 100 miles off the coast of China-Taiwan.
As he described the current tension between China, Taiwan, and the U.S. to Dan Richards on this episode of Trending Globally, “This case, in my view, is extremely dangerous. I would argue that [it’s] the most dangerous flashpoint in the world, by a good margin.”
On this episode - our third in our “Escalation” series - you’ll hear from Goldstein about why Taiwan has become a global flashpoint. It’s not the first time a potential crisis in Taiwan has caused alarm, but as he explains, this time is different - it’s much more dangerous.

[@HistMirror]

Thank you, Trending Globally and Watson Institute, for such calm and rational discussion promoting understanding and peace. This is the voice that should be on our main stream media. As a Chinese American, I am deeply worried that American people and leaders are dangerously underestimating China's determination to unify Taiwan. All the provocations from US can only hasten China's schedule of unification one way or another.

[@magnaviator]

Excellent interview, always insightful perspective from Lyle Goldstein.🙏

[@user-en5vy4up8u]

Obama's 'Pivot to Asia' starts 2011, ie. earlier than 2017 and Trump

[@jonathanscott8994]

This was an excellent conversation, my only critique is that it glosses over the point about how the leaders of all three parties have been playing to their own domestic constituencies for the last near decade when it comes to fear mongering and saber rattling. It would be too much to expect a comprehensive explanation of the different domestic political factions in Taipei and Beijing and what influences each of them has had on the escalating tensions in a brief overview conversation like this, but that would be a REALLY USEFUL thing for someone to do. Perhaps that could be the subject of a future video series.

[@BattlestarZenobia]

Because the US choose to ignore the agreements it made vis a vis China and Taiwan, there simple

[@mistman5640]

19:25

[@autohmae]

He sounds like someone who does not understand nuclear deterrent. Nobody want nuclear war

[@nullptr5129]

Really uncomfortable with how the author seemed to attribute all of this to American diplomatic errors. This analysis seems to implicitly reject the agency of other nations. Chinese belligerence in its territorial disputes preceded Trump and was not, as far as I understand, forced upon them by US foreign policy. Likewise, the Philippines, Vietnam, Japan etc. can probably figure out their own reasons to be worried, and don't need the US government to tell them so. Cautioning the US government against forming a "pacific NATO" neglects the possibility that one might form whether or not the US decides to participate in it.

[@TheLivirus]

Instill existential fear in 1.4 billion proud nationalists...

[@sword7872]

Good to hear peacemakers such as this guy. Pity those in us government are such warmongers and trouble makers.

[@kevinwilliams3694]

The talk softly and worry about encouraging China to attack approach seems extremely dangerous to me. If Xi wants to take Twain and is willing to start a war to get Twain. The USA being soft-spoken and reticent is what Xi wants, it's the closest thing Xi can get to the USA saying they won't stop him. Taking is the best way to avoid conflict but sounding weak is a good way to get treated as weak.

[@mistman5640]

The story should start from 1945 and the end of WW2. China has sovereignty over Taiwan. Like owning a house, one need title and possession. China has title. China does not have possession.

[@shaunmcisaac782]

30 minutes about appeasement of the Beijing government, zero talk about the free and independent people of Taiwan wanting to remain the free and independent people of Taiwan.

[@RB01138]

Not that far in yet but this is totally ignoring Xi jinping's ultranationalism and his annexation of the south china sea. I normally watch this channel because of Mark Blyth, so far this is much less impressive.

[@jimmynickles828]

This completely ignores the ultra- nationalist, Han-centric views of the main protagonist- Xi Jing Ping-THE man responsible for this tension. Very disappointing attempt at ‘balance’.