Washington, United States.
China could invade Taiwan andn a period of six years to realize the stated ambition to replace U.S first military strength in the Pacific, the commander of the U.S. Armed Forces in the region warned on Tuesday almirante Philip Davidson.
‘I’m afraid they are speed up your plans for impersonate the United States (…) between now and 2050, ” stated the head of the Military command of the Indo-Pacific (Indopacom) before a senate committee. “I’m afraid they want to achieve their goal ahead of schedule “.
“It’s clear that Taiwan is part of them ambitions and I think threat is clearly visible in the next decade, yes even in the next six yearshe added.
U.S broke diplomatic relations with Taipei in 1979 Beijing as the sole official representative of China, but it is still the Taiwan’s most powerful ally and its most important arms supplier.
However, China considers the isla like ato his and endangered provincewith get it back by force in case of a formal declaration of independence or a foreign intervention.
After regaining control of Hong Kong, Beijing has repeatedly issued warnings to Taipei with display of power and attempts to obstruct navigation in the Strait of Taiwan, qeu separates both territories.
China, which also has territorial ambitions in the Sea of South China (especially for Vietnam and the Philippines), in the East China Sea (in the Japan-controlled Senkaku Islands) and in the Himalayas for the India, even threatens the American Pacific island of Guam, the Admiral Davidson.
“Guam is one today target”, he warned, recalling that last year the Chinese military released a promotional video featuring pilots attacking a military base on the island 2,500 km east of Philippines
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Davidson asked members of the Senate to approve the installation in Guam of a state-of-the-art Aegis Ashore anti-missile battery capable of interception more powerful Chinese shells.
Guam “must be defended and prepared for it future threats, because I am clear that Guam is no longer just a place we think we can fight, ”he added. fight for it. “
In addition to three other Aegis missile defense systems for Australia and Japan, Admiral Davidson asked Congressmen assault weapons in the 2022 military budget “to say China that the cost of what they are trying to do is too high and that they question their chances of success. “