Trump says Biden is perceived as 'incompetent' by China
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Former US President Donald Trump blames incumbent President Biden for escalations in Taiwan.
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Former President Donald Trump speaks at a Gala in Columbia, Saturday, August 5, 2023 (AP)
In a rally held in South Carolina on Saturday, former US President Donald Trump voiced his concern that the situation in Taiwan has worsened due to the Chinese leadership's perception of Biden as being incompetent.
Trump emphasized that under different circumstances, China would not be escalating in Taiwan, with President Xi Jinping being dangerously close to considering intervention. The former president asserted that Xi's actions were influenced by his belief that Biden lacked the necessary competence to handle the situation effectively.
Furthermore, Trump claimed that President Xi "has no respect for our country anymore," highlighting a notable shift in China's stance towards the United States compared to his own presidential term. Trump suggested that Xi held a higher level of respect for the US when he was in office.
Read more: Taiwan detains army officer, associates for allegedly spying for China
The tensions surrounding Taiwan experienced a significant spike last August when then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi defied Beijing's warnings and traveled to Taipei. China condemned Pelosi's visit, interpreting it as an endorsement of separatism, and in response, launched large-scale military exercises near the island.
Last week, Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu warned that a "Chinese invasion" of the island would have catastrophic consequences for the world citing Taiwan's strategic importance in the semiconductor industry and global shipping lanes.
Wu highlighted that any use of force against Taiwan would create far-reaching repercussions globally. He drew attention to the food and fuel shortages, as well as spiraling inflation, caused by the war in Ukraine as an example of the potential consequences.
"What we need to do is to explain to the international community that if there's any conflict involving Taiwan, it's going to have disastrous results for the rest of the world," Wu said.
Taiwan's location plays a crucial role in international security and prosperity, as more than 50 percent of the world's shipping containers pass through the waterway that separates Taiwan from mainland China.
Read more: Taiwan to receive $345 million military package from US through PDA
