The fact of the matter is discussions about TSMC contemplates the possibility that the CCP wins. This is detrimental for Taiwan's politics, our military morale & confidence in allies. All of this is key to keeping a free & democratic Taiwan. (10/10).

It has bolstered the propaganda value of those that wish to do Taiwan harm & reduced that of those that wish to help. It undermines efforts to build a greater consensus about the value of US ties. This was never the intention - but this is the effect. (9/10).

Introducing Grok Imagine.

Even the CCP Taiwan Affairs Office chimed in to say such rhetoric "shows the ruthlessness of treating the people of Taiwan as pawns and cannon fodder." (8/10).

KMT politicians & the pan-blue media are having a field day. KMT heavyweights see this as evidence that US support for Taiwan is solely through the prism of US-China competition. Pro-China media say the US has a plan to evacuate engineers & bomb TSMC. (7/10).

So back to destroying TSMC. While the intentions of those that share this rhetoric may be to enhance deterrence - after all, this reduces Taiwan's strategic value to the CCP - they have a detrimental effect of playing right into KMT suspicions about the US. (6/10).

In essence, the DPP believes that closer US ties bring deterrence. The KMT believes this brings risk. This choice frames our upcoming election. (5/10).

On the other hand, there is either New Taipei City Mayor Hou or Foxconn billionaire Gou from the KMT. Both are more suspicious of US intentions towards Taiwan & see dialogue with the CCP as the preferred way to maintain cross-strait stability. (4/10).

This includes a top line agenda that is strong on defense, pro-US, pro-democracy, with clarity on the CCP's intentions. Lai believes these elements will give the CCP pause as it considers military options, while reducing long-term risks of conflict. (3/10).

As we head into ntl elections - one which will almost certainly decide Taiwan's future as a free country - we have to understand the domestic elements at play. On one hand there is VP Lai, the DPP nominee, who has pledged a broad continuation of President Tsai's policies. (2/10).

Discussions about whether to destroy #TSMC are unnecessary, counterproductive, and potentially a mistake. It undermines Taiwan's defense, while ultimately providing propaganda value to the #CCP. Let me explain why: (1/10).

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RT @PhuongyN: Clash of dragons: Pelosi's visit to Taiwan and what it means for China. Our panel- Fmr Director Political division, Taipei Ec….

To summarize: We cannot allow the PRC to rollback decades of progress in the TW-US relationship. This is not in Taiwan's ntl interests, nor is it consistent with shared interests in region. Opposing Pelosi's trip would create new risks, rather than mitigate existing ones. (8/8).

Finally, what about the CCP reaction? Already they have responded economically. Military and other actions may soon follow. But what's impt to note is that this is, unfortunately, already part & parcel of the cross-strait relationship today, with or without Pelosi's visit. (7/8).

In this context, Pelosi's visit makes sense. Stronger ties with both Democrat & Republican leadership ensure continuity in the Taiwan-US relationship. Support for Taiwan - symbolic & substantive - is essential as we face growing PRC pressure. Other countries will take note. (6/8).

In terms of Taiwan's ntl interests, we have to be similarly clear-eyed. Enhanced defense capabilities & growing international support is what keeps the PRC at bay. Cold hard calculations of risk & insurmountable cost is what keeps Taiwan secure now & into the future. (5/8).

So the buck has to stop here. We cannot give PRC leeway to chip away at the Taiwan-US relationship, or very soon we won't have much of a relationship left. Showing weakness in the face of PRC resolve will almost certainly backfire, with longer, more serious consequences. (4/8).

If we allow Taiwan-US relations & established precedent to be rolled back due to PRC's intimidation campaign, very soon all aspects of the relationship will come under challenge. This is consistent with past PRC practice of 得寸進尺 (give an inch & they’ll take a mile). (3/8).