WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. military must be ready to respond to a possible invasion of Taiwan as early as this year, a senior admiral said on Wednesday, signaling heightened concern about Beijing’s intentions toward the island.
Admiral Michael Gilday, chief of US naval operations, is the latest senior official in Washington to raise concerns that Chinese President Xi Jinping may be much more willing than previously thought to seize from Taiwan.
His comments came as Taiwan’s top security official warned that any attempt to invade the island would fail and turn China into an international pariah.
Xi is set to secure a third five-year term as leader of the world’s most populous nation.
During a discussion with a think tank, Gilday was asked about Xi’s speech and whether he agreed with another US admiral’s comments that Beijing would be ready to take Taiwan by 2027.
“It’s not just what President Xi says, it’s how the Chinese behave and what they do,” Gilday told the Atlantic Council.
“And what we’ve seen over the last 20 years is that they’ve delivered on all the promises they made earlier than they advertised.”
“So when we talk about the 2027 window in my mind it has to be a 2022 window or potentially a 2023 window,” he added.
“I can’t rule that out. I don’t mean to be alarmist at all by saying that. It’s just that we can’t wish it away.”
The Chinese Communist Party has never controlled Taiwan, but it claims the autonomous island as its own.
Taiwan is not a treaty ally of the United States, but Congress is required by law to sell defensive weapons to Taipei and there is bipartisan support to protect what has become a progressive democracy and vital global trading partner. .
Beijing’s position has long been that it seeks “peaceful reunification” with Taiwan but reserves the right to use force if necessary, especially if the island formally declares independence.
Rhetoric and actions toward Taiwan have become more pronounced under Xi, China’s most assertive leader in a generation, and the military has stepped up purchases of equipment aimed at a successful invasion.
Xi linked the takeover of Taiwan to his vision of the “great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” and said the goal of reunification cannot continue to be passed down from generation to generation indefinitely.
Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine, which China has not condemned, has also raised concerns that Beijing may take similar action against Taiwan’s 23 million people.
Military analysts have long warned that even with strength in numbers, invading Taiwan is a difficult task, given its location and terrain.
Taiwan’s national security chief Chen Ming-tong echoed that sentiment and issued his own warning to Xi.
“I want to solemnly tell the authorities in Beijing that there is no winning chance to attack Taiwan by force,” he told reporters Thursday in Taipei.
“It would lead to international economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation, ruining his ‘great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation’ (Xi) and making him a sinner of the Chinese nation.”
On Monday, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken warned that Beijing wanted to seize Taiwan “much faster” than expected, adding that “a very different China” had emerged under Xi.
Blinken also warned that any war against Taiwan would have a “huge” impact on world trade.
Admiral Michael Gilday, chief of US naval operations, is the latest senior official in Washington to raise concerns that Chinese President Xi Jinping may be much more willing than previously thought to seize from Taiwan.
His comments came as Taiwan’s top security official warned that any attempt to invade the island would fail and turn China into an international pariah.
Xi is set to secure a third five-year term as leader of the world’s most populous nation.
During a discussion with a think tank, Gilday was asked about Xi’s speech and whether he agreed with another US admiral’s comments that Beijing would be ready to take Taiwan by 2027.
“It’s not just what President Xi says, it’s how the Chinese behave and what they do,” Gilday told the Atlantic Council.
“And what we’ve seen over the last 20 years is that they’ve delivered on all the promises they made earlier than they advertised.”
“So when we talk about the 2027 window in my mind it has to be a 2022 window or potentially a 2023 window,” he added.
“I can’t rule that out. I don’t mean to be alarmist at all by saying that. It’s just that we can’t wish it away.”
The Chinese Communist Party has never controlled Taiwan, but it claims the autonomous island as its own.
Taiwan is not a treaty ally of the United States, but Congress is required by law to sell defensive weapons to Taipei and there is bipartisan support to protect what has become a progressive democracy and vital global trading partner. .
Beijing’s position has long been that it seeks “peaceful reunification” with Taiwan but reserves the right to use force if necessary, especially if the island formally declares independence.
Rhetoric and actions toward Taiwan have become more pronounced under Xi, China’s most assertive leader in a generation, and the military has stepped up purchases of equipment aimed at a successful invasion.
Xi linked the takeover of Taiwan to his vision of the “great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” and said the goal of reunification cannot continue to be passed down from generation to generation indefinitely.
Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine, which China has not condemned, has also raised concerns that Beijing may take similar action against Taiwan’s 23 million people.
Military analysts have long warned that even with strength in numbers, invading Taiwan is a difficult task, given its location and terrain.
Taiwan’s national security chief Chen Ming-tong echoed that sentiment and issued his own warning to Xi.
“I want to solemnly tell the authorities in Beijing that there is no winning chance to attack Taiwan by force,” he told reporters Thursday in Taipei.
“It would lead to international economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation, ruining his ‘great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation’ (Xi) and making him a sinner of the Chinese nation.”
On Monday, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken warned that Beijing wanted to seize Taiwan “much faster” than expected, adding that “a very different China” had emerged under Xi.
Blinken also warned that any war against Taiwan would have a “huge” impact on world trade.
