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Taiwan’s military relations with China are at their worst in 40 years, according to Taiwan’s defence minister.
Chiu Kuo-cheng also warned that China could launch a full-scale invasion of the island by 2025.
His remarks came after China sent “record numbers” of military planes into Taiwan’s air defence zone for four days in a row.
Taiwan regards itself as a sovereign state. Beijing, on the other hand, regards Taiwan as a separatist province.
It has not ruled out the possibility of using force to reunite with the island.
“By 2025, China will have reduced the cost and attrition to their lowest levels. It now has the capability, but it will be difficult to launch a conflict due to a variety of other factors “Chiu Kuo-cheng made the remarks while a legislative committee in Taipei debated a multibillion-dollar defence expenditure measure to develop missiles and warships.
He went on to say that there was a genuine danger of a “misfire” over the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan seceded from the mainland after communists took power in 1949.
Analysts have cautioned that Beijing is growing increasingly anxious that Taiwan’s administration is bringing the island closer to a formal declaration of independence and wishes to discourage President Tsai Ing-wen from taking any such moves.
A number of Taiwan’s Western friends have expressed worry over China’s recent open exhibition of military power.
However, US Vice President Joe Biden stated that his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping had committed to uphold the “Taiwan Agreement.”
Mr. Biden appeared to be trying to refer to Washington’s long-standing “one China” policy, under which it acknowledges China rather than Taiwan.
This arrangement, on the other hand, permits Washington to retain a “strong unofficial” connection with Taiwan. The United Says sells weaponry to Taiwan in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act, which states that the United States must assist Taiwan in defending itself.
The “One China” policy, to which Mr. Biden and Mr. Xi are said to have alluded, is a fundamental pillar of Sino-US ties, but it is separate from the One China concept, according to which China maintains Taiwan is an integral part of one China that will be reunified one day.
“I’ve spoken with [Mr] Xi about Taiwan. We agree … we’ll abide by the Taiwan agreement,” President Biden added. “We made it clear that I don’t think he should be doing anything other than abiding by the agreement.”
