WHY THE QUAD SHOULD BECOME THE QUINT

The arrival of Yoon Suk-yeol as President of South Korea earlier this year is a golden opportunity to strengthen the Quad by adding a new member.

- JOHN DOBSON LONDON

Beijing lashed out last week following US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan. Although the People's Republic of China has never had sovereignty over the island, it continues to insist that Taiwan must be brought under its control, by force if necessary, in defiance of Washington and the island's other backers. In a transparent display of its military power, Beijing began exercises involving warplanes, naval ships and missile strikes in six zones surrounding Taiwan. Some lie as little as 12 miles off the island's coast and are clearly designed as a punishment to Washington for allowing Pelosi to display US friendship to Taipei, even though President Biden had no authority to prevent her from doing so. In her role as Speaker, Pelosi is second in succession to the US presidency, behind Vice President Kamala Harris, and therefore has a significant status.

These exercises are the largest and most threatening towards Taiwan since Beijing launched missiles into waters north and south of the island in 1995 and 1996, when Washington received the then President Lee Teng-hui. Although Beijing regularly sends warplanes into Taiwanese airspace, these live firings are unusual and appear to be a rehearsal for a potential and much-threatened blockade and invasion of the island. Should this happen, it would almost certainly escalate into a regional war, involving not only the United States, but also American allies including Japan and Australia, all members of the Quad.