In June 2023, commentary about Chinese President Xi Jinping’s military and economic preparedness renewed attention to tensions over Taiwan. Xi had urged officials to prepare for severe national-security challenges, while Taiwan reported Chinese aircraft and naval activity near the island. The original article argued that Beijing might see an opportunity to act while Western governments were supplying Ukraine. That timing and the prediction of a U.S.–China war were the author’s analysis, not established outcomes. The developments highlighted concerns about deterrence and the possibility of escalation in the Taiwan Strait.
