‘No need to exaggerate’: risk of imminent Taiwan conflict is overhyped, says cross-strait affairs expert
- Beijing should seek reunification according to its ‘own rhythm’ as threat of a clash remains low in the near term, according to heavyweight scholar
- Mainland China could take advantage of ‘extreme pressure’ from the US to gain military advantage against the island, says former think tank dean
“The urgency of [resolving] the Taiwan issue should not be deliberately exaggerated,” said Liu Guoshen, a professor at the Taiwan research institute of Xiamen University in the southeastern province of Fujian, located across the strait from the island.
Liu is a former dean of the institute, which is one of the mainland’s most prominent think tanks on Taiwan issues.
“There’s no need to exaggerate the imminence of the Taiwan issue,” he said. “After 74 years of division, has it been easier for Taiwan to seek independence? The fact is, it is even more impossible for Taiwan to pursue independence.”
He added that Beijing should seek reunification according to its “own rhythm”, dealing with challenges calmly and without “rushing for success”.
Liu’s assessment came amid heated tensions in the strait as Beijing and Washington have ramped up military signalling around the island. Senior US officials have said Beijing could be ready to take the island by force as early as 2027.
