Trump claims China may invade Taiwan soon

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Former President Donald Trump believes China is motivated to invade Taiwan because of the Biden administration's weakness in handling the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and Russia's “invasion” of Ukraine.

In a morning interview with Maria Bartiromo, the Fox Business host, Trump was asked if he believes China would invade Taiwan sooner rather than later.

"I do because they're seeing how stupid the United States is run. They're seeing that our leaders are incompetent. And of course, they're going to do it. This is their time," he replied. "They did nothing on Ukraine. They do nothing."

He also declared that now is China's "time" to launch an offensive against Taiwan, citing Beijing's observation of Washington's "incompetence."

"President Xi happens to be a man with a high intelligence level," Trump speculated, adding that the tumultuous US withdrawal from Afghanistan was an example of the Biden administration's foreign policy and military failures.

“[Xi] saw the way that we left Afghanistan like a surrender and left $85 billion and death behind and left American citizens there that are still trying to get out,” Trump said. “This is his opportunity to do what he wants to do, which is ... he's wanted to do that, and China's wanted to do that for decades.”

Read More: Explaining Taiwan: The Balance of Relations between the US and China

 

During a February episode of 'The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show,' Trump expressed similar sentiments. The former US president has also stated that such a move would not have occurred during his presidency.

The former US president's reiteration comes as the US continues to support the state, with Taiwanese Premier Su Tseng-chang declaring on Tuesday that "the importance of Taiwan-US relations" was exemplified by a same-day visit from members of a US delegation, as well as Mike Mullen, former chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff.

In response to the deployment of US officials to Taiwan, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has stated that Beijing is "firmly determined and resolved to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Mullen is scheduled to meet with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and a number of high-ranking Taiwanese officials this week.

Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Taiwan this week ahead of talks with President Tsai Ing-wen. Pompeo is one of 28 Trump-era officials who will be sanctioned once US President Joe Biden takes office in January 2021.

Pompeo told reporters that “It is wonderful to be here. I've been looking forward to coming to visit with the people of Taiwan for a very long time.”

While both Beijing and Washington recognize Taiwan as a part of China, there has been some concern about a possible mainland reaction to the island's recent decision to support US-led anti-Russia sanctions and remove Russian banks from the global SWIFT financial messaging network. Beijing has previously expressed its opposition to the imposition of such unilateral sanctions in response to the situation in Ukraine.