The US government has pushed for years for a war with China, selling billions of dollars of weapons to separatists in Taiwan. However, those plans are falling apart, after the leader of the KMT, the Nationalist Party based in Taipei, took a historic trip to the mainland, promoting peace. Ben Norton explains the importance of Cheng Li-wun's meeting with Xi Jinping, and the complex political history of Taiwan.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiDtfdBYHBQ

Topics

0:00 KMT leader visits Beijing

1:28 US "prickly porcupine" strategy

2:09 KMT, Chinese Nationalist Party

2:48 Taiwan's ruling party DPP

3:27 Nancy Pelosi visit

4:17 Taiwan's DPP supports Israel

4:42 Fears of new Ukraine

5:22 US war plans

6:22 US arms sales to Taiwan

7:09 USA uses Taiwan as proxy

8:12 (CLIP) KMT leader on Ukraine

9:08 Is Taiwan the next Ukraine?

9:28 Elections results in 2024

10:12 Lai Ching-te is unpopular

10:54 Iran war hurts Taiwan

11:48 Energy crisis

12:27 TSMC and advanced chips

13:45 Neoliberalism

14:10 Developmental state

14:54 Economic insecurity

15:14 Trump tariff threats

15:48 Beijing does not want war

17:12 Beijing opposes separatism

18:06 UN: Taiwan is part of China

18:50 One China policy

19:46 Map of Taiwan recognition

20:05 List of Taiwan recognition

20:45 Cross-strait relations

22:19 Rising trade

23:13 One country, two systems

24:31 US military bases

24:58 Peaceful reunification

25:27 Poll: Taiwan independence

26:09 Future leader of Taiwan?

26:48 Divisions within KMT

27:27 Modern history of Taiwan

29:05 Chiang Kai-shek

29:41 Democracy?

30:46 Cold War One propaganda

31:39 Sun Yat-sen

34:40 Historic step for peace

36:14 Outro