November 18, 2021

After the Chinese leader drew a red line with the US on the Taiwan question and warned it of not playing with fire, a bipartisan advisory body of the US Congress urged policymakers to take tougher measures in "strengthening the credibility of US military deterrence." Though those proposals, which reflect the body's bias and ignorance about China, are unlikely to turn into US policies, experts said China should remain cautious on further provocation from Washington as growing chaotic voices in its domestic political circle would only increase the risk of strategic miscalculation. 

Compared to the annual report released by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) in 2020, the 2021 report focused on enhanced military capabilities by saying it's a "dangerous period" for cross-Straits deterrence and provided recommendations to  Congress such as enhancing the island's "ability to purchase US defense articles and accelerate the process for their sale and delivery to Taiwan," and authorizing the funding to "harden US bases" in the Indo-Pacific region, including robust missile defense. 

The report was released after Chinese President Xi Jinping warned US President Joe Biden that the intention of some Americans to use Taiwan to contain China "is just like playing with fire," vowing to take resolute measures in the face of escalating provocations, which is seen as the first time for China's top leader to send such a tough, resolute and direct warning to the US on the Taiwan question. 

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https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202111/1239374.shtml