Taiwan knows that their small island nation is directly in China’s crosshairs. China has been letting them know that for the past few days.

The Chinese military decided to run a bunch of “drills” in the waters around Taiwan, obviously simulating what a blockade and attack of the island would look like.

China began the military exercises on Saturday, which included at one point “simulated joint precision strikes on key targets on Taiwan island and the surrounding sea areas,” Reuters has reported, citing Chinese state television.”

Japanese defense minister Yasukazu Hamada also said Tuesday that the Chinese military activity near Taiwan is “intimidating training” aimed at seizing control of the air and sea around the island, according to Reuters.”

He said the drills demonstrate how China has an “uncompromising attitude” towards Taiwan.”

Obviously, this is not good, and the Biden administration’s flip-floppy support of Taiwan can’t make that country feel confident about what would actually happen if China invaded – especially given the fact that French president Macron decided to throw Taiwan directly under the proverbial bus in favor of going all kissy-face with Xi Jinping.

Speaking with POLITICO and two French journalists after spending around six hours with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his trip, Macron emphasized his pet theory of “strategic autonomy” for Europe, presumably led by France, to become a “third superpower.”

He said “the great risk” Europe faces is that it “gets caught up in crises that are not ours, which prevents it from building its strategic autonomy,” while flying from Beijing to Guangzhou, in southern China, aboard COTAM Unité, France’s Air Force One.”

Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party have enthusiastically endorsed Macron’s concept of strategic autonomy and Chinese officials constantly refer to it in their dealings with European countries. Party leaders and theorists in Beijing are convinced the West is in decline and China is on the ascendant and that weakening the transatlantic relationship will help accelerate this trend.”

“The paradox would be that, overcome with panic, we believe we are just America’s followers,” Macron said in the interview. “The question Europeans need to answer … is it in our interest to accelerate [a crisis] on Taiwan? No. The worse thing would be to think that we Europeans must become followers on this topic and take our cue from the U.S. agenda and a Chinese overreaction,” he said.”

“Europeans cannot resolve the crisis in Ukraine; how can we credibly say on Taiwan, ‘watch out, if you do something wrong we will be there’? If you really want to increase tensions that’s the way to do it,” he said.”

Ah, France… surrendering before there’s even a fight. How very typical.

Taiwan, for their part, knows that their battle is both physical and psychological. China may target Taiwan with air strikes, but they want the infrastructure (mostly regarding computer chips) intact. China also knows that bombing the civilian population of Taiwan would be a poor look all over the world. They are hoping to push the “One China” idea and convince the people of Taiwan that they really are all the same. Well, tell that to the Taiwanese air force.
https://twitter.com/dailyguardianph/status/1645735325090869252
The photo of a pilot wearing this patch has now viral on Twitter.

Taiwan bear badge punches back after China drills https://t.co/KgMm2Js8wl

— BBC News India (@BBCIndia) April 11, 2023

A popular new badge depicts a Taiwanese black bear punching Winnie the Pooh, who often appears in memes representing Chinese leader Xi Jinping.”

The fad began among air force pilots, but has since gone viral.”

Images and videos released by the ministry to back up its stance included the sight of a pilot wearing a sew-on patch of the battling bears – and social media users were quick to highlight it.”

The badge, available in two versions, has the word “Scramble!” at the bottom, one of them also proclaiming “We are open 24/7″.

A third badge shows a Taiwanese fighter pilot slapping a panda, China’s national symbol.”

Taiwanese people were quick to snap up the Pooh-punching patches, which retailed at 200 Taiwanese dollars (£5.30; $6.50).”

They were produced by Wings Fan Goods in Taoyuan city, east of the capital, Taipei, which has now sold out of them.”

Taiwan’s air force told the Reuters news agency that it did not “particularly encourage” its members to wear the patch, which is not a part of their uniform.”

However, it added that it would “maintain an open attitude” to anything that raised morale.”

These are *chef’s kiss* perfect. Xi Jinping is manically paranoid about anything Winnie the Pooh related, as the Pooh Bear image has been used to mock him for years. The fact that Taiwanese air force pilots are wearing this patch, and that it SOLD OUT to the general public, speaks strongly to the current sentiment in the country.

And what does the creator of the patch have to say?

Alec Hsu, who designed the patch, has been selling it at his shop since last year, but he saw a spike in orders after Taiwan’s military news agency on Saturday published a photo of the patch on the arm of a pilot inspecting a fighter jet.”

“I wanted to boost the morale of our troops through designing this patch,” said Hsu, who owns Wings Fan Goods Shop.”

Hsu said he has ordered more patches to meet the increased demand. Customers have included military officers and civilians.”

Consider the morale boosted, sir. Well done. Better get them back in stock immediately. I’d love to own one myself.

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