Taiwan's top official in the U.S. warns that China's aggression towards the island has escalated since former President Donald Trump left office, and that Taiwan is ready to fight if necessary.
Taiwan's top official in the U.S. is warning that China has ramped up its aggression toward the island, and that its people are ready to fight.
"We've seen Ukraine," Alexander Yui, the Taiwanese representative to the U.S., told Fox News' Aishah Hasnie when asked whether the island's residents were willing to meet the moment, if China were to invade.
Taiwan Ambassador: Xi Jinping 'Emboldened' After Trump's Departure
Taiwan has been intensely watching the conflict in Eastern Europe as Kyiv's forces have battled a Russian invasion for more than two years.
Yui said he hoped to not need help from U.S. troops, which Ukraine also does not have, but suggested they would be eagerly accepted if offered.
Taiwan Ambassador: Xi Jinping 'Emboldened' After Trump's Departure
"If your house is under fire, and they respond to help you with a bucket of water, would you say no?" Yui posed.
The diplomat said Chinese President Xi Jinping has escalated regional tensions since former President Donald Trump left office, but he stopped short of blaming the Biden administration for emboldening China.
Taiwan Ambassador: Xi Jinping 'Emboldened' After Trump's Departure
"Xi Jinping has been emboldened because he wants to realize what he calls his China dream," Yui said. "It's not about which administration is in the United States . . . but rather, what are the thoughts of Xi Jinping?"
Taiwan's ministry of defense tracked eight Chinese military aircraft and two naval ships near the island earlier this week. The defense ministry said four of the eight planes crossed the median line dividing China and Taiwan's territory in the Taiwan Strait – though Beijing, which claims ownership of Taiwan, does not recognize the geographic delineation.
Taiwan Ambassador: Xi Jinping 'Emboldened' After Trump's Departure
A week prior, on Sept. 25, Taiwan's defense ministry said it had detected 43 Chinese military aircraft in a 24-hour period, with 34 having crossed the median line. The next day saw 41 Chinese military planes detected near Taiwan.
Xi is believed to be preparing his country for an invasion of Taiwan by 2027 – meaning the U.S. response would fall to whoever wins the presidency in November.
Asked if he had a message for Americans about Taiwan ahead of Election Day, Yui said it was a "peace-loving nation."
"We believe in democracy and freedom. We have to share the same values. And we want to be incorporated in the world, because we've been isolated for many decades due to the conflict that we have . . . with mainland China," he said.
"We are ready to defend ourselves. We are not going to be a burden to anyone. We are not going to ask anyone to do it for us," Yui added. "But we do hope to have international support, and to show Xi Jinping that any further aggression against Taiwan will not be tolerated."
Yui's comments come as tensions between the U.S. and China continue to escalate. The Biden administration has angered Beijing with its support for Taiwan, and has been critical of China's human rights record and its trade practices.
China, for its part, has accused the U.S. of interfering in its internal affairs and has vowed to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The situation in Taiwan is one of the most dangerous flashpoints in the world today. If China were to invade Taiwan, it would likely trigger a conflict between the U.S. and China, two of the world's most powerful countries.
The outcome of such a conflict is impossible to predict, but it could have devastating consequences for the world.
