(WASHINGTON) China is learning lessons from Russia’s war in Ukraine and is ready to use force against Taiwan, the head of the CIA said Wednesday.
Posted at 7:50 pm yesterday.
“We think so [la guerre en Ukraine vue par Pékin] “The next few years will not really affect the question of whether Chinese leaders will use force against Taiwan, but when and how,” said Bill Burns, head of US intelligence.
A guest at the Aspen Security Forum in the US, he laid out the risks ahead of President Xi Jinping taking action against Taiwan by the end of the year, some believe. Party.
“Such risks appear to us to be growing over the decade,” he said.
The agency’s boss analyzed that Beijing might be “in trouble” over the war in Ukraine, which he called a “strategic defeat” for Vladimir Putin, who thought he could topple Kiev in a week.
Mr. Burns believes.
“The lesson that Chinese leaders and the military are learning is that it is necessary to bring a major hegemonic force to bear to win,” he reiterated, noting the importance of “space information control” and preparedness for potential economic sanctions. .
Consistent with previous statements from Washington, the CIA chief assumed China was not providing military support to Russia in its war in Ukraine, despite its verbal support.
The United States is concerned about Beijing’s increased military pressure in recent years against Taiwan, a democratic island that China considers part of its territory and has vowed to one day withdraw.
Earlier, at the same forum in Aspen in the Rocky Mountains, China’s ambassador to the US said Beijing still supported “peaceful reunification”.
“No conflict, no war: this is the most important consensus between China and the United States,” Qin Gang underlined, though he regretted that the United States had gradually “eroded” from its policy. Unique recognition of Beijing.
“Only by strictly following the one-China policy and resisting Taiwan independence can we achieve peaceful reunification,” he added.
U.S. President Joe Biden angered Beijing on May 23 by saying the U.S. would defend Taiwan militarily in the event of an invasion by Communist China, before backing down the next day, declaring that “strategic ambiguity has governed Washington’s Taiwan policy.” The policy remained unchanged for decades.
Joe Biden told reporters on Wednesday that he “expects” to speak with President Xi Jinping in the next ten days. »
