Could it trigger World War Three? The people of Taiwan are going to the polls. Many fear the threat of a Chinese invasion if the election does not go the way Beijing wants.
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This could be the year... China invades Taiwan
Could it trigger World War Three? The people of Taiwan are going to the polls. Many fear the threat of a Chinese invasion if the election does not go the way Beijing wants.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">What's happening? </h2>
2024 will be the year the world goes to the polls. More than 60 countries, home to half the world's people, will vote in presidential or other elections this year.
But the most important election of this year may take place in a tiny, self-ruling island of 23 million around 100 miles from the coast of south-east ChinaA country in East Asia, home to 1.4 billion people.. That island is Taiwan.
Taiwan's elections are set to take place on Saturday to choose a new presidentIn some countries, the leader is called the president. and parliamentAn assembly of representatives, usually of an entire nation, that makes laws. . But many see the elections as Taiwan's vote on its relationship with its neighbour, China.
Taiwan has its own constitutionA document that sets out the fundamental rules according to which a country is governed, which are usually difficult to change., army and free elections. But Beijing sees the island as a breakaway region which will one day be part of China again.
The race will be tight. The most-likely winner, Lai Ching-te, has said he supports formal independenceBeing able to make your own decisions and free from others' control. . His is running against Hou Yu-ih, who supports closer ties with China.
The majority of Taiwanese people support neither reunificationWhen two countries that have been split apart become one nation again. with the People's Republic of China (PRC) nor independence. Most people simply want the relationship between the two countries to stay the same.
US president Joe Biden has promised to protect Taiwan from China - but what he means by that is unclear.
Many believe that China will order an invasionWhen armed forced enter and try to take control of another country. of Taiwan if the elections do not go to plan. But it may be too worried about how the USAThe United States of America is a country in North America. It has a population of 329 million. would react.
Could it trigger World War Three?
Yes! If the USA gets drawn into a war with China, it will affect the whole world. World War Three then becomes possible.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">Find out more </h2>
No! China will not risk invading Taiwan and getting a response from the USA. It already has a lot of power over Taiwan's politics.
China - A country in East Asia, home to 1.4 billion people.
President - In some countries, the leader is called the president.
parliament - An assembly of representatives, usually of an entire nation, that makes laws.
Constitution - A document that sets out the fundamental rules according to which a country is governed, which are usually difficult to change.
Independence - Being able to make your own decisions and free from others' control.
Reunification - When two countries that have been split apart become one nation again.
Invasion - When armed forced enter and try to take control of another country.
USA - The United States of America is a country in North America. It has a population of 329 million.
This could be the year… China invades Taiwan
War Games: A US simulation of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan advised "decisive action" to arm the island. Glossary
China - A country in East Asia, home to 1.4 billion people.
President - In some countries, the leader is called the president.
parliament - An assembly of representatives, usually of an entire nation, that makes laws.
Constitution - A document that sets out the fundamental rules according to which a country is governed, which are usually difficult to change.
Independence - Being able to make your own decisions and free from others' control.
Reunification - When two countries that have been split apart become one nation again.
Invasion - When armed forced enter and try to take control of another country.
USA - The United States of America is a country in North America. It has a population of 329 million.