NOTE: Before answering the following questions, watch the video under “Resources” below.

1. List the who, what, where and when of the news item.

2. a) How does the CCP (the Chinese Communist Party; China’s government) view Tawian?
b) Why has Beijing (the Communist government of China) increased its military activity near Taiwan recently?

3. a) Define deterrent.
b) What is Taiwan’s military doing to create a more effective deterrent against Chinese aggression?

4. Why do you think details of Taiwan’s long-range missile program are being kept secret?

5. What new strategy has President Tsai Ing-wen focused on in deterring Chinese aggression?

6. Consider current factors:

• The Chinese Communist government’s current aggressive behavior against Taiwan (and in the South China Sea)
• The worldwide spread of coronavirus-19 from China after the government there failed to warn governments about what was going on - and allowed their citizens to travel to other countries.
• The Chinese Communist government’s effective takeover of the sovereign, democratic government of Hong Kong.
• The Chinese Communist government’s atrocious human rights violations against ethnic Uigher Muslims in Xinjiang, China
• The new U.S. administration led by President Biden being challenged by the Chinese: The Chinese delegation’s behavior toward Biden administration reps during their first meeting in Alaska. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan were lectured to by Chinese government officials.

a) Does it look like Chinese President Xi JinPing will move to take over Taiwan in the next few years, or is this just all bluster?
b) Considering the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, as well as the purpose of the United Nations, will the U.S. (and/or UN, European Union) protect Taiwan from being taken over by China? Will Taiwan’s military preparations be enough to thwart China - or at least prevent them from acting? Explain your answer.
c) Ask a parent what he/she thinks.