An armed conflict across the Taiwan Strait is not inevitable, former Slovenian president Danilo Turk told the Raisina Dialogue conference in New Delhi.
The annual conference, which was held over three days and ended on Saturday, was organized by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and New Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation think tank.
During a session on Saturday titled “The Strategic Poser: Dragon’s Manoeuvre in the Taiwan Strait,” six panelists discussed the possibility of China launching a military campaign against Taiwan and its timetable for doing so.
Photo: Screen grab from Raisina Dialogue conference livestream
Turk called on the global community to explore a path to a peaceful resolution of cross-strait tensions and avoid looking for solutions through military strategizing.
The global effects of a Chinese invasion “would be profound,” as a substantial part of global foreign trade would be halted, former Swedish prime minister Carl Bildt said.
China would not conduct an invasion “without very, very thoughtful preparations,” given the consequences to China and the world at large, Bildt said.
German lawmaker Peter Beyer said that the world should not speculate about the timetable of a possible Chinese invasion, but should be prepared as China “is very concretely preparing for a military invasion of Taiwan,” adding that an invasion could be possible “within the next two to five years.”
Germany sent a brigade to the South China Sea “to show solidarity with Taiwan” and like-minded countries in the region in response to China’s increased military presence, Beyer said.
He called on Germany to continue its solidarity with Taiwan by having the country’s lawmakers and business representatives frequently visit Taiwan.
Former Indian ambassador to Japan Sujan Chinoy cited Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) “Chinese Dream” and the two centenary goals Beijing proposed in 2017 as indications that China would attempt unification with Taiwan by 2049, the 100th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China.
However, Chinoy voiced doubts about an invasion of Taiwan, as it would be “likely to derail China’s own economic trajectory” and result in international sanctions.
An economic embargo or blockade would be one tactic China could use in preparation for or in conjunction with air and naval attacks, Chinoy said.
The US, Japan and Australia are certain to become involved in such a scenario, he added.
If Taiwan were to declare independence, “that would be a clear red line” for China, Shangri-La Dialogue senior fellow for Asia-Pacific Security Lynn Kuok said.
The ambiguity of China’s “Anti-Secession” Law, enacted in 2005, provides flexibility for Beijing to determine the circumstances in which it could justify an invasion of Taiwan, she said.
Taipei has once again made it to the top 100 in Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index 2025 report, moving up five places from last year to 60. The annual index, which was published last month, evaluated 1,000 of the most populated metropolises based on five indices — economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance. New York maintained its top spot this year, placing first in the economics index thanks to the strength of its vibrant financial industry and economic stability. Taipei ranked 263rd in economics, 44th in human capital, 15th in quality of life, 284th for environment and 75th in governance,
The Sports Administration yesterday demanded an apology from the national table tennis association for barring 17-year-old Yeh Yi-tian (葉伊恬) from competing in the upcoming World Table Tennis (WTT) United States Smash tournament in Las Vegas this July. The sports agency said in a statement that the Chinese Taipei Table Tennis Association (CTTTA) must explain to the public why it withdrew Yeh from the WTT tournament in Las Vegas. The sports agency said it contacted the association to express its disapproval of the decision-making process after receiving a complaint from Yeh’s coach, Chuang
Control Yuan Secretary-General Lee Chun-yi (李俊俋) tendered his resignation last night, admitting that he had misused a government vehicle, as reported by media. His resignation was immediately accepted by the Control Yuan. In a statement explaining why he had resigned, Lee apologized for using a Control Yuan vehicle to transport his dog to a pet grooming salon on May 20. The issue first came to light late last month, when TVBS News reported that Lee had instructed his driver to take the dog to the salon. The news channel broadcast photos that it said were taken by an unnamed whistle-blower, which purportedly showed the
A former officer in China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) who witnessed the aftermath of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre has warned that Taiwan could face a similar fate if China attempts to unify the country by force. Li Xiaoming (李曉明), who was deployed to Beijing as a junior officer during the crackdown, said Taiwanese people should study the massacre carefully, because it offers a glimpse of what Beijing is willing to do to suppress dissent. “What happened in Tiananmen Square could happen in Taiwan too,” Li told CNA in a May 22 interview, ahead of the massacre’s 36th anniversary. “If Taiwanese students or
RSS