China regards Taiwan, a democratically governed island, as its “sacred” territory and has never renounced the possible use of force to ensure eventual unification.
The United States, like most countries, has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but it is its most important international backer and arms supplier, making it a constant source of tension between Beijing and Washington.
“Our view is that they (the Chinese) are working hard to effectively put themselves in a position where their military is capable of taking Taiwan over our intervention.”Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Haines and Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, testified about global threats to US national security, discussed lessons China may be taking from the war in Ukraine and the international response to it. .
Haines said he doesn’t think the war would hasten China’s plans for Taiwan. Berrier said using the military to achieve his goal was not Beijing’s main option.
“I think the PRC (People’s Republic of China) would prefer not to do it by force. I think they would prefer to do it peacefully over time,” Berrier said.
China was learning “some very interesting lessons” from the conflict in Ukraine, These include the importance of small-unit leadership and tactics, as well as effective training with the right weapons systems and a powerful noncommissioned officer force, Berrier said.
US officials need to work with their partners in the Indo-Pacific and with authorities in Taiwan, Berrier said, “to help them understand what this conflict has been about, what lessons they can learn, and where they should focus their defense dollars and their training”.
“They have a mostly conscript force. I don’t think they’re where they should be,” Berrier said of Taiwan.
Source: Ambito
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