(WASHINGTON) The U.S. military must be ready to respond to the possibility of Beijing attacking Taiwan this year, an admiral warned Wednesday in a sign of growing concern over China’s intentions toward the island.
Posted at 6:27 pm yesterday
The Atlantic Council questioned US Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael Gilde on the possibility of Beijing annexing Taiwan by 2027.
“It’s not just about what President Xi says, it’s about how the Chinese behave and what they do,” Gilde told the think tank, pointing out that over the past 20 years, Beijing has implemented every one of its promises before it was announced.
“So when we talk about 2027, in my mind (means) 2022 or potentially 2023,” he said. “I cannot rule out that possibility. I didn’t mean to say that. It cannot be ruled out,” he said.
On Sunday, at the opening of the Communist Party Congress, which is set to give him a historic third term in office, Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated his intention to “reunify” Taiwan with China by force if necessary.
Admiral Gilday’s comments came a day after those of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The latter said Beijing wanted to annex Taiwan at a “much faster pace” than previously expected, and that a “very different China” would emerge under Xi.
The Chinese Communist Party has never controlled Taiwan, but Beijing considers the autonomous island an integral part of its territory.
Washington has historically maintained a policy of “strategic ambiguity” about US military intervention in the event of a Chinese attack on Taiwan.
The policy aims to prevent the island’s leaders from provoking Beijing by formally declaring its independence, as well as deterring China from invading Taiwan.
In this case, the United States essentially sells weapons to Taipei with the goal of defending itself.
“We will work with the utmost sincerity and great efforts for the peaceful reunification (of Taiwan), but we will never give up the use of force, and we have the opportunity to take all necessary measures,” said Xi Jinping at the CCP. Congress on Sunday.
“The reunification of the motherland must and must be achieved”, he added, condemning any “separatism and foreign interference” in the matter.
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