The Financial Times quoted a senior U.S. official as saying that the Biden administration assesses that Communist Party President Xi Jinping is eager to take over Taiwan. The official said that recent moves by the Chinese Communist Party reflect Xi Jinping’s “big hand in shaping his own historical image and positioning,” with some Taiwanese officials saying that the Communist Party may be Xi Jinping’s re-election as president in 2022 or the PLA’s centennial attack on Taiwan in 2027.
The official told the Financial Times that “the Chinese Communist Party’s attitude toward Taiwan seems to be moving from a stage where it is satisfied with maintaining the status quo to a position where it is more agitated and inclined to test Taiwan’s bottom line and intends to make further big moves to attack Taiwan to implement ‘reunification'”. The official added that Washington is preparing to enter Xi Jinping’s third term, which is worrying because Xi sees the progress of Taiwan acquisition as an important indicator of his personal legitimacy and performance in power, and “Xi appears to be ready to take greater risks.
Taiwan and the United States signed a memorandum of cooperation on maritime patrol last Friday (26), and on the same day China sent 20 PLA planes to disturb Taiwan.
The Financial Times reported that the Biden Administration‘s growing unease with the Chinese Communist Party coincided with a warning issued by Philip Davidson, the current Indo-Pacific commander, at a Senate hearing recently. Davidson said earlier that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army could attack Taiwan “within the next six years”.
John Aquilino, who will soon take over as commander of the U.S. military in the Indo-Pacific, told members of the U.S. Senate that a Chinese attack on Taiwan is more imminent than many people understand. Aquilino said the Chinese Communist Party has acted aggressively in the India-China border conflict, and there are signs that it is becoming increasingly reckless. Aquilino told the Senate Armed Services Committee, “What we’re seeing is something we didn’t anticipate.” He said Washington needs to be prepared.
Kurt Campbell, U.S. Indo-Pacific Affairs Officer, believes the CCP’s actions in different areas are provocative, with the strongest attitude toward Taiwan. The Communist Party’s actions in the South China Sea, its economic pressure on Australia, its “wolf diplomacy” with Europe, and its border conflict with India are all signs that the Communist Party is asserting itself in the world.
Taiwan’s national security officials have expressed concern that Xi will launch an offensive against Taiwan at two times: in 2022, when he will be confirmed as entering his third term in office, the 20th Communist Party Congress, and in 2027, when the PLA will celebrate its 100th anniversary.
Washington is concerned about the CCP’s actions against Taiwan, but senior Taiwanese officials believe that the CCP is only further pressuring Taiwan militarily at this point, with no signs of an immediate attack.
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