David Cohen, the deputy director of the US intelligence agency Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), said that Chinese President Xi Jinping is preparing an army to occupy Taiwan by 2027.
But before that he will try to integrate the island nation peacefully. If not by peaceful means then use force. This news was reported by the American media CNN citing the CIA.
Citing a CIA statement on Friday (September 16), a report by Russian media outlet RT quoted CNN as saying that Xi Jinping is not currently preparing any aggression to occupy Taiwan. However, he wants to use force to build military capabilities to occupy Taiwan.
"He (the Chinese president) has not yet made that decision," CNN quoted the CIA as saying. But he ordered his army to be prepared for any eventuality. It means he wants to do it and he is able to do it. So far our intelligence is saying that.
China considers Taiwan a breakaway island or territory. On the other hand, Taiwan has been claiming to be an independent state.
But recently, Beijing has publicly stated that it wants to reunify Taiwan with the Chinese mainland in a peaceful way. US Congress Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan last month sparked unprecedented tensions across the region.
In response to Pelosi's visit, the Chinese military held a week-long military exercise around Taiwan. Not only that, the Xi Jinping government released a white paper asserting the occupation of Taiwan by civilian means.
However, it was rejected by Taiwan authorities calling it China's "one country, two policy". At the same time, Taipei announced that the people of Taiwan will decide their fate.
