WASHINGTON — China's economic slowdown could increase the risk of Beijing taking military action toward Taiwan, the Republican chair of a US congressional committee on China said on Monday (Sept 11), drawing a contrast with Democratic President Joe Biden, who said it made it less likely. Biden on Sunday called China's economic troubles a 'crisis', and said on a trip...
Biden on Sunday called China's economic troubles a "crisis", and said on a trip to Asia that he did not think it would cause China to invade Taiwan, noting instead that he felt Beijing probably did not have the "same capacity" it previously did.
"I just think it's equally as plausible that, as China confronts serious economic and demographic issues, Xi Jinping could get more risk accepting, and could get less predictable and do something very stupid," Gallagher said, referring to the Chinese president. China's military in recent years has stepped up activity around Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory. US Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns has said Xi has instructed his country's armed forces to beGallagher said he was visiting New York partly to work with financial industry experts to assess the risk to the global financial system if China were to invade or blockade Taiwan.