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War in Taiwan in September? The Economist's red tank cover stirs fears
The Economist cover showing a red tank in Taiwan has revived fears of a conflict in September. China has not ruled out force, while Taiwan rehearses evacuations.
The Economist cover revives the specter of war in Taiwan
Will war in Taiwan break out in September? The question has been circulating on social media these days trinc The Economist's cover, which shows a red tank climbing the island. The detail, which some interpret as a premonition, has peine the debate over conflict scenarios in the Taiwan Strait.
China explicitly leaves open the possibility of taking Taiwan by force, but there is no public evidence of an imminent invasion. Meanwhile, the island is preparing for the worst-case scenario with civil defense drills far more realistic than usual: simulation of a mobile internet blackout, population evacuation, and conversion of underground facilities into emergency shelters. And with good reason.
Some point to October instead of September, while others note that major military operations are detected months in advance. The more patient argue that Beijing is in no hurry: it thinks in decades, not calendars. Dark humor, meanwhile, is not in short supply: if war breaks out and we lose video games, we can always learn to play cards instead.
The Economist cover has become a classic of geopolitical prophecy, but it is worth remembering that even a broken clock is right twice a day. September will tell whether the red tank was a warning or simply a striking graphic device.
Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication.
Read the full discussion (20 replies).
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