Politico: China may use the crisis in Ukraine to try to seize Taiwan
Photo: Ann Wang / Reuters
China can use the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine to try to seize Taiwan by force — this will plunge the world into an even deeper crisis. This was stated in a conversation with Politico by Michael Kofman, director of programs for the study of Russia at the American Center for Naval Analysis (CNA), a researcher at the Kennan Institute.
In his opinion, the situation in the world will worsen. “We are going to return to a very old world that some of us hoped not to see again,” the expert said, naming China’s benefits from the crisis in Ukraine.
Earlier on January 27, a journalist from the United States, Matthew Karnichnig, listed the unexpected consequences of sanctions that Western countries may impose in the event of Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine. In his opinion, strict restrictions will make Moscow even more dependent on Beijing, and Russian President Vladimir Putin will come under pressure from China.
In addition, sanctions against the Russian energy sector may lead to an increase in world commodity prices, and consumers will feel it immediately, Karnichnig noted.
Relations between China and Taiwan began to deteriorate in 2016, after the Democratic Progressive Party candidate Tsai Ing-wen came to power in the unrecognized Republic of China. Despite the loss of global diplomatic recognition, Taiwan remains a de facto state that has its own armed forces, state authorities and currency. The Chinese leadership does not recognize Taiwan’s statehood and considers its government separatist.
