Neutral Zurich No Longer Neutral, Sanctions Possible If China Invades Taiwan

SWITZERLAND - In the event, China invades Taiwan, the director of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch, which is the Swiss agency responsible for implementing economic sanctions on foreign nations for hostile acts, expects Switzerland to adopt any measures that are implemented by the European Union against China if it, in fact, invades Taiwan.

In an interview with Neue Zuercher Zeitung paper, Ineichen-Fleisch stated her intentions to leave her post as director of the SECO, but not before answering the statement regarding Swiss sanctions against China.
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For the last week, and especially the last 24 hours, the rhetoric between the United States and China, over Taiwan, has stepped up and has become increasingly intense.

Such rhetoric being exchanged is centered around foreign diplomats visiting Taiwan, and the purpose of their diplomatic missions. Even the visits are being seen by Beijing as recognition of Taiwan's independence and are being considered violations of China's One-China policy, questioning their sovereignty, according to the Standeford Journal.

While China has increasingly been seen pressuring, militarily, Taiwan to accept Chinese sovereignty over the island, the Taiwanese government states that it will remain democratic and allow its inhabitants to decide its own future.

Though Taiwan does want peace with China, it vows to defend itself against any aggression by its red neighbor.

Earlier in the week, a diplomatic delegation from Japan visited Taiwan to discuss Asia-Pacific defense in a 4-day talk. Japan is also seeing itself in the Chinese crosshairs if Taiwan does fall to Chinese aggression.

Nancy Pelosi is currently on her way to the pacific for a tour of several stops, with Taiwan being on the itinerary. China has gone as far as telling the United States that if you play with fire, you will get burned. Even more dangerous rhetoric includes fighter escorts for Pelosi's plane will be seen as an invasion if it enters Taiwan airspace and could shoot it down, igniting a war.

Early on July 29th, the 80th army of the PLA posted on their certified Weibo account, "Prepare for War."

Reuters stated, when asked in an interview if Switzerland would adopt EU sanctions against China if an invasion occurs in Taiwan, the director of SECO stated that yes, she strongly believes such sanctions would be adopted. She also defended the record for Switzerland's adopting EU sanctions against Russian individuals and companies associated with Russia's special military operation in Ukraine.

"I strongly assume that we would accept such sanctions. However, in the case of China would be far more drastic than sanctions against Russia because the economic relations are much more important. Therefore, they would probably be greater discussions in the EU and the United States as well as in Switzerland than there were in Russia. But I hope it will never come to that." - Ineichen-Fleisch

Though Switzerland has already frozen approximately $7 billion in Russian assets and 15 properties, Pressure has been mounting on the Swiss to do more against Russia as Switzerland is a common place for Russian elites and oligarchy to keep their money free from sanctions of other nations, with its long-standing rule of neutrality. The world has called on Switzerland to investigate and freeze the assets of Russians who are individually sanctioned at a stiffer pace.

 

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