China is not an irrational actor. They know that the most effective way to take Taiwan is slowly, through soft power and political subterfuge.
There is no need or advantage to a full frontal assault.
There is no need or advantage to a full frontal assault.
They've repeatedly stated that they'll use force to take Taiwan if necessary.
They are building the military power to make the full frontal assault.
I don't get why there's so much "oh, China's different" talk on here or on other online forums. I often wonder how much of that is organic versus something their propaganda/agitation ministries puts on.
Perhaps, but in the last year China did build these:
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/03/stairway-to-tai...
The person at the top of the chain was asking why everyone is preparing for war. This behavior from China is why. It predates any of the Greenland Trump idiocy, too.
The downside of autocracy is ...autocracy. the upside is that you have a consistent hand at the helm, making predictions of behaviour simpler and more rational than the rotating cast of leadership we present.
China has consistently chosen soft power over military action. I suspect they will continue to do so.