For all the talk of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s desire to invade Taiwan, one counterpoint is often overlooked: The domestic risks involved in starting a potentially devastating war.
China is now enjoying the fruits of more than four decades of peace, which have turned the economy from an agricultural backwater into one of the world’s primary growth engines. Many ordinary citizens like Beijing resident Joanna, who asked to be identified by her English name due to fears over speaking about Taiwan, are worried a military conflict would erase that prosperity and lead to a rise in poverty.
"A war will surely be a big deal and the U.S. could intervene and things could escalate,” the 40-year-old said, warning that it would "plunge people into misery and suffering.” "The level of uncertainty is high,” she added.
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