Why we must support this tiny island nation

IN AN increasingly polarised world we must brace ourselves for the real possibility of military conflict with China within the decade.

Unless there is a change in Xi Jinping’s ardently nationalistic posture, our very identity as believers of the international rules-based order is at stake.

China has already tested the limit of thewest’s endurance as it broadens its territorial claims over vast swathes of vital maritime trade routes.

And, just as in 1939 when Britain stood alone against an oppressor, it is the fate of a single sovereign nation that may, finally, tip the

balance. For Xi to proclaim his desire to “reunify” Taiwan peacefully reminds me of that famous song in Mel Brooks’ To Be Or Notto Be, when Hitler proclaims: “All I want is peace – a little piece of Poland, a little piece of France.”

Logically, there is every reason for China to avoid military conquest of the island, just 112 miles from its shores.

Killing the children you wish to return to the bosom of the motherland is not a good look.

More importantly, a conventional invasion will be hard-fought, even if it catches the US unawares, and will destroy much of taiwan’s infrastructure. This is significant because Taiwan currently produces more and betterquality semiconductors – the chips that power all computers – than even South Korea.

But, with Xi already 68 and impatient to have reunification as his legacy, we must prepare for the possibility that logic will not rule the day.

Just as when Deng Xiaoping told Margaret Thatcher during Hong Kong handover talks in 1984 that he would be willing to accept a pile of smoking rubble, we cannot underestimate China’s political desire to possess-taiwan, whatever its state.