Beijing is determined to “achieve reunification” with Taipei in the shortest possible time.
China may invade Taiwan< /strong> this year or next, suggests the commander of US naval operations Admiral Michael Gilday. The United States must be ready to respond to an invasion, the admiral was quoted by France24.
Gilday's comments came after Taiwan's head of national security Chen Min-Tong warned that any attempt to invade the island would fail and will turn China into an international pariah.
Discussions about the possible date of the attack intensified last year, when the then head of the Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Philip Davidson told Congress that Chinese military may” take action“ against Taiwan by 2027 , highlights Financial Times.
“It's all about how the Chinese behave and what they do. What we've seen over the last 20 years is that they've delivered on every promise they've made before, Gilday emphasizes. – So when we talk about a possible Chinese expansion into Taiwan in 2027, I think it could also happen in 2022 or maybe 2023. We cannot ignore this”.
Several days ago US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken also emphasized China's determination “to achieve reunification (with Taiwan – ed.) in a much faster time.” Blinken also said that any war over Taiwan would affect world trade.
The Chinese Communist Party has never controlled Taiwan, but believes a self-governing island of its own. During the opening of the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of China, Chinese leader Xi Jinping warned the US against supporting Taiwan and blamed “external forces” for the escalation of tensions.
The United States does not give in to China's threats, President Joe Biden at least four repeatedly warned that the US would intervene to protect Taiwan from an unprovoked attack. In August, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei.
Congress will soon vote on legislation to fund an arms distribution to Taipei of $10 billion over five years, marking the first time the US has funded arms sales to Taiwan. Taipei used to pay for American weapons, the sale of which was approved by Washington.
Also read: Atlantic Council: What Xi Jinping said at the XX of driving the Communist Party “between the lines”?
Related video
Invasion of Russian President Vladimir Putin< span style="font-weight: 400;"> to Ukraine ignited the biggest conflict in Europe for several generations and provoked the struggle of the great powers. In East Asia the chances of war are growing, and in a year, two or three the world may shudder at another war from Europe to the Pacific. Will the US be able to deal with China, Iran and Russia at the same time, analyzes the American historian Gal Brands.< /span>
