Taiwan's de facto ambassador to the U.S., Bi-khim Hsiao, said Ukraine's success in fighting a war against Russia with the Western allies is important for deterring Xi Jinping from invading Taiwan.
What Happened: Amid fears of Chinese action in Taiwan, where Beijing claims sovereignty, Hsiao told the media that the Ukraine war is actually helping to heighten global awareness of Taipei's potential peril amid China's "growing aggressiveness."
"The Ukraine war has actually generated a lot more attention and interest in understanding Taiwan's security situation and understanding Taiwan's defense needs," Hsiao said.
"I think pushing back on aggression is the key message that will help to deter any consideration or miscalculation that an invasion can be conducted unpunished, without costs, in a rapid way."
"We must ensure that anyone contemplating the possibility of an invasion understands that, and that is why Ukraine's success in defending against aggression is so important also for Taiwan."
Why It Matters: Taiwan and its Western allies have repeatedly warned that Xi is learning from Vladimir Putin‘s war in Ukraine and can attack the island nation soon.
Beijing has long desired reunification with Taiwan, a goal that remains a top priority for the Xi-led Chinese administration. China considers Taiwan a renegade province and has not ruled out using force to take control.
Under Xi, Beijing has massively ramped up military and political pressure to try and get Taipei to accept its sovereignty, including staging war games near the island and warplanes into Taiwan’s air defense zone.
Read Also: China ‘Aspires’ To Be ‘Evil Empire’ Under Xi Jinping, Says Pence In Jibe At Trump
Photo by Congress Musou on Wikimedia Commons
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Trade confidently with insights and alerts from analyst ratings, free reports and breaking news that affects the stocks you care about.
