US Commander's Stark Warning: 500,000 Deaths in Taiwan Strait Conflict – Defense Minister Responds

High-Stakes Analysis: The US and Taiwan Weigh the Risks of Potential Conflict.

In a recent Senate hearing, US Indo-Pacific Command Commander Samuel Paparo delivered a sobering assessment, warning of dire consequences should conflict erupt in the Taiwan Strait. He stated that such a war could devastate the global economy and lead to 500,000 deaths "due to desperation." Taiwan's Minister of National Defense, 顧立雄 (Ku Li-hsiung), responded to these concerns.

顧立雄 (Ku Li-hsiung) affirmed that Paparo's comments highlighted the importance of stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, directly linking it to core US interests. He emphasized the importance of deterring any potential actions from mainland China. He stated that such deterrence aligns with the mutual interests of both sides.

Paparo's earlier testimony during a hearing on "Military Deployments and National Security Challenges in the Indo-Pacific" revealed that pressure from Beijing on Taiwan had increased by 300% last year. He underscored that a conflict in the Western Pacific would severely damage global trade, heighten the risk of nuclear war, and result in the deaths of a very large number of people. He also warned that the economic fallout could surpass even the Great Depression of the 1930s.