Trump claims Xi won’t invade Taiwan as US sees China’s war plans delayed

U. S. officials now doubt Beijing will try to take Taiwan by force before 2028, even though Xi Jinping told the People's Liberation Army to be ready to do so by 2027, according to two serving officials, a former official and one other person briefed on Washington's thinking. Those sources say Xi's purge of corrupt officers has set back military preparedness, and that China may wait to see how Taiwan's 2028 presidential vote turns out. Officials have long treated 2027 as a readiness goal, not an invasion deadline, and Beijing has never publicly confirmed such a plan, according to The Independent.

A fourth consecutive win for the Democratic Progressive Party, particularly with President Lai Ching-te returning to office, could raise the danger. One U. S. official said 2028 would then become "pretty sporty." Beijing regards Lai's party as promoting Taiwanese separateness. Three sources said Chinese planners might also watch the 2028 American election, but the main official said Beijing sees both U. S. parties as committed to Taiwan.

President Donald Trump has downplayed the threat, saying Xi personally promised not to invade while Trump is in office. After meeting Xi in Washington, he said only that Taiwan was discussed.

Summarized by PolitiKool from The Independent’s reporting. Read the full story at The Independent →