China could invade Taiwan by 2027: US commander
China could invade Taiwan within the next six years_ as Beijing accelerates its moves to supplant American military power in Asia_ a top US commander said.
Democratic Taiwan lives under constant threat of invasion by China_ whose leaders view the island as part of their territory and which they have vowed to one day take back.
"I worry that they're (China) accelerating their ambitions to supplant the United States and our leadership role in the rules-based international order ... by 2050_" said Washington's top military officer in Asia-Pacific_ Admiral Philip Davidson.
"Taiwan is clearly one of their ambitions before that. And I think the threat is manifest during this decade_ in fact_ in the next six years_" he told a US Senate committee.
Taiwan split from China at the end of a civil war in 1949. Washington switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 1979_ but remains the island's most important unofficial ally and military backer.
Donald Trump embraced warmer ties with Taiwan as he feuded with China on issues like trade and national security.
Biden's administration has offered Taiwan cause for optimism for continued support aside from the State Department saying in January that US commitment to the island was "rock-solid".
Taiwan's de facto ambassador to the US was formally invited to Biden's inauguration_ an unprecedented move since 1979.
China also has made expansive territorial claims in the resource-rich South China Sea and even threatens the American island of Guam_ underlined Davidson.
"Guam is a target today_" he warned_ recalling that the Chinese military released a video simulating an attack on an island base strongly resembling US facilities in Diego Garcia and Guam.
He called on lawmakers to approve the installation on Guam of an Aegis Ashore anti-missile battery_ capable of intercepting the most powerful Chinese missiles in flight.
Guam "needs to be defended and it needs to be prepared for the threats that will come in the future"_ Davidson said.
In addition to other Aegis missile defense systems destined for Australia and Japan_ Davidson called on lawmakers to budget for offensive armaments "to let China know that the costs of what they seek to do are too high".
.png "Advertisement")
