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China’s claims that the ‘breakaway’ island of Taiwan has always been part of its territory, has led some to believe that Beijing will be emboldened by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and will move to annex the island. With President Xi Jinping’s crackdown on freedoms and democracy in Hong Kong, the Taiwanese are becoming more nervous - particularly as President Putin proclaimed Russia is building a new "democratic world order" with China. But if China were to invade Taiwan how would the West respond – particularly the USA? America has traditionally been vague with its policy of ‘strategic ambiguity’ but President Biden’s recent comments seemed to signal that the US was willing to defend Taiwan.

As China continues to push ahead with the modernisation of its military could Taiwan be a flashpoint that will change international relations and the world order around the globe?