Concerns in Washington Over China's Military Strengthening and Its Implications for Taiwan

An American official said on Tuesday, January 15, that the trend of China's military strengthening has raised concerns that Chinese officials may have plans to forcibly annex Taiwan to China. According to Reuters, this senior intelligence official from the U.S. Department of Defense, who wished to remain anonymous, told reporters that China's military expenditures show a significant increase and that the country has taken steps to modernize its military. The official stated that current predictions suggest that China will not take such action, but he noted that the 'greatest concern' is that Chinese military personnel may gain enough confidence to prepare for a 'victorious battle' against Taiwan. China does not recognize Taiwan's separation and considers it a part of its territory, reacting negatively to any actions perceived as supporting Taiwan's independence. A recent intelligence report from the U.S. Department of Defense, released on Tuesday, estimates that China's military spending in 2018 was 'likely over $200 billion,' which is three times higher than in 2002. The report also describes the series of reforms China has made in its military as 'ambitious' and states that the Taiwan issue is the 'main driver' of China's military modernization efforts. According to this report, U.S. defense officials are particularly concerned about China's advancements in hypersonic technology, as missile launches at such speeds make interception very difficult. The report notes that the Chinese are on the verge of deploying such missiles in various regions, and their military presence around Taiwan has also seen an increasing trend in recent years. The report explains that China's military budget is still significantly lower than the $700 billion the United States spent on its military in 2018, but the report's authors warn that China has managed to leverage 'intellectual property theft and technology espionage' to benefit from the research of the U.S. and other countries to advance new technologies while keeping its costs low. On Wednesday, January 3, Chinese President Xi Jinping stated in a speech that Beijing reserves the right to use force to control Taiwan but seeks to continue the peaceful reunification with the autonomous island. In addition to Taiwan, China also claims a large part of the South China Sea as its own, and this view is one of the main points of tension between Beijing and Washington.