It’s one thing to declare yourself ‘rather dead than red’, quite another to inflict that decision on the rest of us

Arguments in the foothills of war are always the same. Those for war shout loudest and beat their chests, eager for tanks to rumble and jets to roar. Those against are dismissed as wimps, appeasers and defeatists. When the trumpets sound and the drums beat, reason runs for cover.

The visit to Taiwan of the US congressional speaker, Nancy Pelosi, has been so blatantly provocative it seems little more than a midterm election stunt. She declares it “essential that America and her allies make clear that we never give in to autocrats”. China’s gross overreaction is a classic example of precipitate escalation. Yet when Joe Biden asserted that the US would defend Taiwan militarily, the president’s office instantly backtracked, reasserting a policy of “strategic ambiguity”. It remains the case that no one quite believes the US will go to war over Taiwan – so far.

Simon Jenkins is a Guardian columnist

Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a letter of up to 300 words to be considered for publication, email it to us at [email protected]

Continue reading…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like

Mars helicopter Ingenuity: Nasa about to try historic flight

If all goes to plan, craft will ascend to 10 feet above…

Pressure on Hunt over tax cuts is constrained by economic reality

Political divisions and questions over the rule of law provide more fuel…

Just Stop Oil activists occupy beds in Harrods in protest against fuel poverty

Protesters take to luxury beds and sofas in London store to call…