China is 'on track to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027' top US admiral testifies

A top US admiral has just testified that China is building its military and nuclear arsenal on a scale not since seen World War II, preparing to invade Taiwan by 2027.

2

Admiral John Aquilino, the leader of the Indo-Pacific Command, told the US House Armed Services Committee in a prepared testimony on Tuesday that Beijing's defense budget has ballooned by 16% over the last few years to over $223 billion. In the three years since he's taken command, he said that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) had added another 400 fighter jets and 20 new major warships to its arsenal. Admiral Aquilino said China has doubled its ballistic and cruise missile inventory since 2020.

Admiral Aquilino said: "All indications point to the PLA meeting President Xi Jinping's directive to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027. The PLA's actions indicate their ability to meet Xi's preferred time-line to unify Taiwan with mainland China by force if directed".

• Read more: China would drop NUCLEAR BOMBS non-stop on Japan if it defends Taiwan
• Read more: China could invade Taiwan with its own 'special military operation'
• Read more: China could invade Taiwan and gain control of TSMC

The Chinese military has also reportedly been rehearsing various tasks that would be involved with an operation against Taiwan, including simulating an encirclement with a maritime and air blockade, said Aquilino. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Thursday that Taiwan is China's internal affair, accusing Washington of creating division in the Asia-Pacific region.

Jian told reporters in a regular press briefing in Beijing: "Some people in the US have been trying to hype up the China-threat narrative to escalate tensions across the strait and instigate confrontation. We firmly oppose that".

The US Pentagon has a far higher defense budget, with Biden proposing an $850 billion budget for the Pentagon for fiscal 2025, with this number including $500 million to replenish weapons that would be given to Taiwan in a "first-time funding request" that the country asked for to "address aggression in the region and ensure continued support to our allies".

• Read more: President Biden says US will militarily defend Taiwan if China attacks
• Read more: Chinese economist: if US ramps sanctions, China needs to seize TSMC
• Read more: Taiwan TV channel apologizes: falsely reports China invaded Taiwan
• Read more: 'MAJOR WARNING' for Pentagon: several years to replenish missile stock

This news that China is thirsty to invade Taiwan isn't a surprise if you've been following the news over the las few years, with plenty of stories that we've reported on above. This includes China reportedly saying it would drop nuclear bombs continuously on Japan if they intervened with Taiwan.