Committee Chair Issues This BOLD Warning About China Invading Taiwan (Video)

Speaking exclusively to Fox News Digital, Gallagher stated that "Xi Jinping has made it clear that he has aggressive designs on Taiwan, by force if necessary." Gallagher added that China's increase in military spending "should be abundantly clear, especially in the aftermath of Ukraine, that he is deadly serious." China announced a 7.2% increase in its defense budget, bringing the People's Liberation Army's budget to $230 billion.

March 08, 2023

This increase in spending comes as the U.S. warns of a potential invasion of Taiwan, with Republicans and national security officials stating that China has been emboldened by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

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Li Keqiang, China's premier, spoke of Taiwan in announcing the PLA budget increase. China has long claimed Taiwan as its territory and has stated that it will bring the island under control by force if necessary. Li stated that the government had followed the party's "overall policy for the new era on resolving the Taiwan question and resolutely fought against separatism and countered interference."

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Gallagher warned that a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan could "potentially bring us into kinetic confrontation with China" and that "time is not on our side." Gallagher believes that "America and our allies need to put hard power in place to protect Taiwan and deter an invasion before it is too late, including by providing Indo-Pacific Command with the resources it needs, moving quickly to clear the foreign military sales backlog to Taiwan, and ensuring that the CCP's coercive economic tactics do not undermine our ability to protect American interests at home and abroad."

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CIA Director William Burns has previously stated that Xi has ordered his military to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027. Fox News reported last summer that China could invade Taiwan within the next 18 months, according to current and former officials familiar with U.S. and allied intelligence. Tensions spiked over Taiwan in August 2022 after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the self-governed island. China expressed outrage at the move despite U.S. lawmakers frequently visiting the island. The Chinese military conducted live-fire drills surrounding Taiwan for weeks following Pelosi's visit, an apparent simulation of an invasion. Communication channels between the U.S. and Chinese militaries have been closed since Pelosi's visit.