China is about to 'test Joe Biden's resolve'

President Joe Biden and allies in Asia and the Pacific will have to face the reality of China attempting to take control of Taiwan “not just in three years but three months,” according to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s Peter Jennings.

A report by an Australia Defence Department official revealed it was “highly likely” Xi Jinping’s regime would take over Taiwan in 2024 depending on the result of Taiwan’s presidential elections.

The report warned that an amphibious assault on Taiwan’s shores is unlikely but insisted China would use “all means short of war” to achieve its goal.

Mr Jennings told Sky News an amphibious campaign would “lead to war pretty quickly” between China, and the US, Japan, and other key regional allies.

“China will adopt a slower, more cautious strategy than that; taking a step seeing what happens, I think that would involve blockading the straits, it’ll certainly involve coercing businesses not to operate in Taiwan,” he said.

“There’s probably quite a considerable Communist Party 5th column in Taiwan that will rise when Beijing gives it a signal”.

Mr Jennings said any attempts by China to take control in Taiwan will present a significant test for President Biden.

“I think that’s the challenge we’re going to face not just in three years, but in three months,” he said.

“Xi Jinping is very keen to use Biden’s first year to test the president’s resolve on this issue. Xi Jinping has really been ramping the pressure up at all levels in a military sense in an economic and rhetorical sense.”