US intelligence assesses China currently has no plan to invade Taiwan in 2027, preferring to achieve unification without force, despite ongoing military pressure.
WASHINGTON: The US intelligence community assesses that China does not currently plan to invade Taiwan in 2027. According to its annual threat report, Beijing prefers to achieve unification without using force.
The report states Chinese leaders have no fixed timeline for unification. It notes the People’s Liberation Army is making “steady but uneven” progress on capabilities for a potential capture.
This measured assessment comes despite Beijing’s frequent military drills around the island. China views Taiwan as its own territory and has never renounced using force.
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Taiwan’s de facto embassy in Washington said it remains vigilant. “China has never abandoned the use of force against Taiwan,” it stated, calling the military activities a threat to regional stability.
The Pentagon last year said China was preparing to win a fight for Taiwan by 2027. The intelligence report calls this a contingency, not a current plan.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly downplayed the threat. He has touted his relationship with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who he says told him he will not attack Taiwan while Trump is in office.
Beijing has never confirmed such a conversation. The Trump administration nonetheless approved a record USD 11 billion arms sale to Taiwan in December.
The report also addressed regional tensions, noting China’s pressure on Japan will likely intensify. This follows remarks last year by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi about a potential military response to a Taiwan attack.
US intelligence called Takaichi’s comments a “significant shift” for a Japanese leader. China aims to punish Japan and deter other countries from similar statements, the report said.
Takaichi has maintained her stance is consistent with longstanding Japanese policy. Her visit to the White House follows the report’s publication.
The Sun Malaysia
