Taiwan-Pelosi update: safe landing, cyber-attacks and military exercises

Catch up: Why Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan has the whole world on edge.

Tensions are rising globally as U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi descended into Taiwan yesterday. If you were wondering, yes, she landed safely — and so far, no World War III.

Her flight to Taiwan — with over 700K viewers, was the most watched ever per Flightradar24.

Some have called her trip reckless, and Chinese publications have repeatedly warned Pelosi not to land.

• Chinese media outlet Global Times suggested warplanes could be sent over Taiwan.
• Taiwan’s presidential office website was also briefly taken down by overseas cyber-attacks.
• China said it would conduct missile tests and military drills between August 4 and 7 in six areas surrounding Taiwan.

It’s a delicate situation: Last week, China’s President Xi Jinping told Biden on a call, “whoever plays with fire will get burnt” — in reference to Taiwan.

But according to Control Risks’ Director of Analysis for China and North Asia — war would be “too costly from either side’s perspective” (BBG).

A one-year war could reduce America’s GDP by 5-10% and China’s GDP by 25-35% — per a RAND Corporation study.

• It’s a risk both sides are unlikely to take as both economies are still recovering from COVID.

China’s economy is looking even more sensitive as a significant property crisis hangs over its economy.