As Trump acts with open contempt for international law, China is taking notes. The Cuba model, in particular, offers a useful blueprint for Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) to apply in pursuing his “historic mission” of “reunification” with Taiwan. The suffering is the point: It is the lever Trump is using to apply pressure to the regime, whose fall, Trump glibly maintains, is imminent. Like Cuba, Taiwan would face blackouts, which would disrupt its water and healthcare systems. Each step appears insufficient to justify a major military response.

Source: Taipei Times March 17, 2026 17:39 UTC