We 'can never win' a war: Taiwan's former president Ma on the best way to deal with China | DW News

[Beijingwalker]

We 'can never win' a war: Taiwan's former president Ma on the best way to deal with China​

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In this exclusive DW interview, Ma said attempts to deter China from attacking Taiwan would not work. “No matter how much you defend yourself, you can never fight a war with the mainland. You can never win. They're too large, much stronger than us.”

Ma also cast doubt on whether the United States would come to Taiwan’s aid if China invaded – despite US President Joe Biden repeatedly saying he would do so. Ma added that he believed Taiwan could work with China’s President Xi Jinping and said that “we have to” trust Xi on relations across the Taiwan Strait.

Ma called for a return to his friendly approach to China as president from 2008-16. “We should use a non-use of military means to reduce the tension,” he said. Speaking to DW’s Richard Walker and Tsou Tzung-han, Ma blamed Taiwan’s current DPP government for the intense tensions with China. He added that in the long term, “unification” of Taiwan with China might be possible – but only if achieved peacefully and democratically.

 

[Arion ⵣ]

I don't think that china will resort to the military option tbh.

 

[PakAl]

I don't think that china will resort to the military option tbh.

They won't unless Taiwan declares independence.

 

[Sam6536]

They don't need to fight an actual war. Their own military + the possibility of direct US interference is enough detterance. Taiwan strengthening relations with Japan, Korea and other nations in their vicinity will be another net positive for them. China hasn't made a move yet not out of "goodwill" it's one of the former reasons. A direct attack will be a huge gamble for China, one who studies geopolitics will see the implications it can have.

 

[Yommie]

Considering China has 70 times the population of Taiwan, I'd say he's right.

 

[uhuru]

They don't need to find an actual war. Their own military + the possibility of direct US interference is even detterance. Taiwan strengthening relations with Japan, Korea and other nations in their vicinity will be another net positive for them. China hasn't made a move yet not out of "goodwill" it's one of the former reasons. A direct attack will be a huge gamble for China, one who studies geopolitics will see the implications it can have.

geopolitics and priorities change.

for now it is just a facade to put pressure. as long as status quo remains.

 

[War Lord]

They don't need to win. Just inflict so much casualties that the Chinese think thrice before attacking Taiwan.

Simple as that.

 

[Rego]

They don't need to win. Just inflict so much casualties that the Chinese think thrice before attacking Taiwan.

Simple as that.

Taiwan can acquire nuclear weapons secretly

 

[Yommie]

They don't need to win. Just inflict so much casualties that the Chinese think thrice before attacking Taiwan.

Simple as that.

War involves casualties. A million British men fell in WW1, but that did not deter Britain from pushing on to win against Germany.

 

[Yommie]

Taiwan can acquire nuclear weapons secretly

Nuclear weapon does not guarantee victory.

 

[War Lord]

War involves casualties. A million British men fell in WW1, but that did not deter Britain from pushing on to win against Germany.

China is going to lose anywhere from 10-100x that amount lol

In the end it'll be caught up in a war with Taiwan and it's warfighting and economic capability degraded just like how Russia's was in Ukraine.

Let's not forget that the UK after WW1 and 2 was dethroned by the US. Even in WW2 it was getting a good beating by Germany and had the US not intervened the UK would have been taken over by Nazis or at least taken out of the war permanently.

 

[Yommie]

China is going to lose anywhere from 10-100x that amount lol

In the end it'll be caught up in a war with Taiwan and it's warfighting and economic capability degraded just like how Russia's was in Ukraine.

Let's not forget that the UK after WW1 and 2 was dethroned by the US. Even in WW2 it was getting a good beating by Germany and had the US not intervened the UK would have been taken over by Nazis or at least taken out of the war permanently.

Sure, but China has 1,400 million people compared to Taiwan has 20 million people. At the end of the day, Taiwan will be bled dry the way Germany was bled dry in WW1.

 

[Beijingwalker]

ROC lost the whole of mainland China in less than 3 years, they can lose Taiwa in 3 days.

 

[Yommie]

ROC lost the whole of mainland China in less than 3 years, they can lose Taiwa in 3 days.

China will start with their Kinmen island to test waters, so to speak. Kinmen is very difficult for Taiwan to defend.

 

[FuturePAF]

They don't need to win. Just inflict so much casualties that the Chinese think thrice before attacking Taiwan.

Simple as that.

More so than Casualties, fears of what would happen to the economy will have more bearing on China’s decision to invade or even blockade. If China decides to act it must be assured it can be done quickly, with minimal casualties, and be successful.

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