TAIPEI: China’s leadership is too “overwhelmed” with its internal problems to consider an invasion of Taiwan, President Tsai Ing-wen said in an interview with the New York Times.
China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has ramped up military pressure against the island over the past four years, leading to concerns of a conflict that would have global repercussions.
But Tsai, in a transcript of the New York Times DealBook Summit interview her office published on Thursday (Nov 30), said China had too many issues at the moment.
“Well, I think the Chinese leadership at this juncture is overwhelmed by its internal challenges. And my thought is that perhaps this is not a time for them to consider a major invasion of Taiwan,” she said.
“Largely because the internal economic and financial as well as political challenges, but also, the international community has made it loud and clear that war is not an option, and peace and stability serves everybody’s interests.”
Asked about Tsai’s comments, China’s defence ministry said: “China will eventually and surely be reunified”.
“The People’s Liberation Army will take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” ministry spokesperson Wu Qian told a monthly news briefing in Beijing.