A former commander of the US forces in the Pacific on Tuesday told the US Congress that the US ignores the prospect of China invading Taiwan within years “at our peril,” as tensions with Beijing remained high after the downing of an alleged Chinese spy balloon.
China’s intent to take Taiwan is clear, retired admiral Harry Harris, former head of the US forces in the region, told the US House of Representatives Armed Services Committee at a hearing.
He cited testimony by his successor, Admiral Phil Davidson, before the US Senate in 2021, in which the Indo-Pacific commander emphasized the prospect that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) could invade Taiwan.
Photo: EPA-EFE
“My successor at Indo-Pacific Command testified before Congress in 2021 that the PRC could invade Taiwan in six years — that’s 2027,” Harris said on Tuesday. “We ignore Admiral Davidson’s warning at our peril.”
Actually, Davidson stopped short of predicting a full-scale invasion in an interview last month with the Japan Times.
“In my mind, that can be many lesser things than an all-out invasion,” he said. “One of those would be the threats to outer islands, and I think it’s a grave security concern of Taiwan’s.”
The Armed Services Committee held its first hearing since Republicans took control of the House, with the theme of “The Pressing Threat of the Chinese Communist Party to US National Defense.”
It came at a tense time for US-China relations, just days after the Pentagon shot down an alleged Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina after it drifted across the continental US. It led to the postponement of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s long-planned trip to China and has reignited Republican criticism that the administration of US President Joe Biden needs to take a tougher stance toward Beijing.
Republican members of the committee also said they have been informed by the US Strategic Command “that China has surpassed the US” in the number of launchers for intercontinental ballistic missiles, which the lawmakers called “a wake-up call.”
At the hearing on Tuesday, Harris — who recently visited Taiwan — said the region was at a “precarious crossroad,” adding that Beijing was engaged in a quest to “intimidate, isolate and ultimately dominate Taiwan.”
Some China experts have questioned public warnings about a timeline for a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan.
They have said that Beijing would much prefer to absorb Taiwan eventually without the use of force, as Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) has said publicly.
They have also said that 2027, the 100th anniversary of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, is simply a date China has set for its military modernization goals, rather than a hard date by which it wants to conquer Taiwan.
Harris seemed to disagree.
“Xi Jinping has shown us his intent regarding Taiwan time and time again, and shame on us if we ignore him,” he told the committee.
During the hearing, asked by US Representative Chris Deluzio to elaborate on what “strategic clarity” would mean for the US, Harris said it means clarifying whether the US will commit to Taiwan’s military defense, should China try to take over the nation by force.
“I think the time for ambiguity is over,” he was quoted by Politico’s Connor O’Brien as saying.
“We have to be clear about our intent with regard to what would happen if the PRC invades Taiwan, as the PRC is clear in its intent that it’s ultimately going to seize Taiwan, if need be,” Harris said.
Strategic clarity would entail letting Taiwanese know whether the US would defend Taiwan so that they can decide between bolstering the nation’s defensive capabilities or allowing annexation by China, he said.
Such a policy would also inform Beijing of the cost it would pay if it tries to invade Taiwan and that US parents would know that their children might lose their lives in a war to protect Taiwan against Chinese aggression, he added
Additional reporting by Jonathan Chin
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old