Washington: US National Security Advisor (NSA), Robert O’Brien, has warned, ‘Before the first world war, Germany increased the strength of its navy to challenge the British Royal navy. China is increasing its naval strength, on similar lines, intending to force the United States to withdraw from the Pacific Ocean and then attack Taiwan.’ He also issued a stern warning that China should not attack Taiwan, keeping in view the US policies regarding Taiwan. At this time, the US NSA also advised Taiwan to increase its defence expenditure, to defend itself against China.
Senior US defence officials had warned, in May, that against the background of the Coronavirus pandemic, China will try and acquire certain parts in the South and the East China Sea. The Chinese activities against Taiwan have visibly increased before and even after the warning. The Chinese communist party and military officials had taken an insistent stand that this is the right time to attack Taiwan during a meeting held at the end of May. Taiwanese Foreign Minister, Joseph Wu, also had warned that the Chinese communist government has failed on various counts and to divert the public attention from the failures, it can make Taiwan a scapegoat with an attack.
The warning issued by the US NSA has the background of the successive Chinese exercises near the Taiwan border, intrusion by the fighter jets and threats issued. The reference of the first world war, along with the United Kingdom and Germany, made by the US NSA, becomes significant. The US NSA warned, ‘China has greatly increased its naval strength. Germany had increased its naval strength before the first world war to challenge the British Royal navy. Since that time, no other country has increased its naval might in such a massive way. These Chinese activities are the conspiracy to push the United States out of the West Pacific. After that, China intends to attack Taiwan with amphibious landing’.
O’Brien reprimanded China in suggestive words saying that ‘Amphibious Landing’ will become extremely difficult, taking into account that there is a distance of more than 150 kilometres between China and Taiwan. O’Brien warned, ‘Please remember that it is not easy to attack Taiwan. The US policy would be ambiguous regarding retaliation against China if it attacked Taiwan.’ The policy adopted by the United States regarding Taiwanese security is known as ‘Strategic Ambiguity’. As per this policy, the United States is free to retaliate in any way against China if it attacked Taiwan.
O’Brien, while speaking at a function organised by the Nevada University, also advised Taiwan to increase its defence expenditure. The US NSA said, ‘Taiwan should remember that when China is making such huge spending on defence since the last seven decades, Taiwan cannot expect to defend itself with defence expenditure of only 1.2% of the GDP.’ O’Brien also advised that Taiwan should make itself like a military porcupine. O’Brien indicated regarding stopping China by saying that the lion does not like to eat a porcupine.
Meanwhile, China has threatened Taiwan over the proposal submitted by the Taiwanese opposition party KMT. KMT has passed resolutions that Taiwan should take US help to stop China and should establish diplomatic relations with the United States. KMT is considered to be a China supporter party, and therefore, the stand taken by this party becomes noteworthy. China has reacted very sharply to this, and the Chinese spokesman warned that no efforts for Taiwanese independence would be tolerated. Whereas, the Chinese media have warned that now, the only option left in the hands of China is a full-fledged war to teach Taiwan a lesson.
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