Jakarta, CNN Indonesia –
Military United States of America stated that a threat China to attack Taiwan serious and more real than most people understand.
Prospective US Military Fleet Commander for the Indo-Pacific (USPACOM), Rear Adm. John Aquilino, said China views restoring control over Taiwan as “priority number one.”
“Because the strengthening of the Chinese Communist Party is at stake with the Taiwan issue,” Aquilino told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday (23/3).
Aquilino said he disagreed with the statement of the recently retired former USPACOM commander, Philip Davidson, that China could take over Taiwan within the next six years.
“My opinion is this issue is closer to us than most people think and we have to deal with this,” Aquilino was quoted as saying AFP.
Aquilino explained China’s threat to Taiwan varies. The US, he said, really must increase the defense budget as proposed, namely US $ 27 billion, in order to strengthen defense in the region “in the near future and in a state of emergency.”
“The Chinese Communist Party has produced several capabilities in the area designed to deter us. The most dangerous concern is military strength against Taiwan,” Aquilino said.
Even so, Aquilino declined to comment on allegations by Republican Senator Tom Cotton that China could invade Taiwan as early as 2022.
Cotton expressed his allegations after taking an example from the Russian incident. He said Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 just days after Moscow was crowned host to the Winter Olympics.
Meanwhile, Cotton highlighted that China will also host the Winter Olympics in February 2022.
So far, China regards Taiwan as an opposition territory because it insists on independence as a sovereign state.
The relationship between China and Taiwan also continued to deteriorate after Taipei was led by President Tsai Ing-wen. He is the president of Taiwan who is pro-democracy.
Since taking office in 2016, Tsai has continued to seek international recognition for Taiwan, including getting closer to the US.
However, Chinese President Xi Jinping insisted he would not allow Taiwan to become independent. He even vowed to do everything in his power, including a military war to defend Taiwan.
The US transferred diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 1979. Even so, the US remains the unofficial ally and most important military supporter of Taiwan under the Taiwan Relations Act.
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