U.S. Secretary of State Brinken said on Thursday that China was determined to pursue Taiwan’s unification on a “fairly faster timeline” than previously envisaged. Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping had earlier reiterated his willingness to use force if necessary.
U.S. Secretary of State Blinken
Photographer: Bonnie Cash/UPI/Bloomberg
held at Stanford University in Californiaevent“China’s approach to Taiwan has changed in recent years,” said Secretary of State Brinken. “China has made a fundamental decision that the status quo is no longer acceptable, and the Chinese government is determined to pursue unification on a fairly fast-paced timeline,” it said. He did not mention the timing or other details.
At the Chinese Communist Party Congress, which is held once every five years, on the 16th, General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered a widely watched activity report, claiming that “the wheel of history is moving forward” toward national reunification on the Taiwan issue. “We reserve the option to take all necessary measures,” he added.
Biden administration officials have repeatedly criticized China for eroding the balance of power in the Taiwan Strait, but they don’t often comment on Beijing’s intentions for an invasion. The State Department did not immediately respond to a question regarding whether Blinken’s remarks reflected an official assessment that China had brought forward the task of reunifying Taiwan.
Original title:Blinken Says China Wants Taiwan on ‘Much Faster Timeline’(excerpt)
