News Analysis A professor of international relations at Peking University, Jia Qingguo, recently observed that the aggressive interactions between Taipei, Beijing, and Washington were like the formation of “a perfect storm.” On China’s National Day, 25 Chinese war planes flew into Taiwanese airspace and Taiwan immediately scrambled jets. The United States and the United Kingdom had three aircraft carriers with destroyer escorts in the nearby Philippine Sea awaiting orders. Then 10 days later, on Taiwan’s National Day, China’s Xi Jinping vowed “to fulfill reunification.” Many believe that seizing Taiwan would be a major achievement in solidifying his legacy, before beginning his presumed third term of leadership in 2022. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen responded by telling the Taiwanese people, “We will not bow to Beijing pressure.” U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan told the BBC that the United States would “stand up and speak out” over Chinese aggression across the Taiwan Strait. …