Singapore’s Prime Minister Predicts China Initiating War Over Taiwan is Unlikely

China, who has been in conflict with the United States for opposing the reunification of China and Taiwan while adhering to the ‘One China’ principle, is unlikely to invade Taiwan, according to recent observations.

On the 8th (local time), Bloomberg reported that Prime Minister Lee said at the 6th Bloomberg New Economy Forum held in Singapore, “I don’t think China will initiate ‘D-Day’ in Taiwan.”

Despite showing discomfort over China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea, including Taiwan, Lee expressed a pessimistic view of the imminent war between the two sides.

Lee said, “China wants Taiwan to be unified under One China, but it is unsure how to realize it.”

However, he repeatedly warned of the risk of war. Referring to the battle that took place between the U.S. Navy/Marines and the Japanese Army on Iwo Jima, a strategic point in the Western Pacific, he said, “Attacking Taiwan is no different than attacking Iwo Jima.” He emphasized, “Iwo Jima was a war soaked in blood.”

The Battle of Iwo Jima, which resulted in a tremendous number of casualties, is considered one of the most brutal battles during World War II.

Meanwhile, as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit is being held in San Francisco, USA, from 11th to 17th, it was reported that U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping will have a separate summit on the 15th.

Regarding this, Lee pointed out that the two leaders will discuss the issue of the two sides, which is the biggest tension factor in the U.S.-China relationship, but there is still a long way to go to resolve the piled-up issues between the two countries.

He said, “Meetings are necessary for the (U.S.-China) relationship to flow in the right direction, but I do not expect the meeting to make everything sweet and light.”

Some point out that while the conflict in Ukraine and Israel has drawn global attention this year, the Taiwan Strait has been relatively quiet, but it may not be the case next year.

Hal Brands, a professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, recently wrote in a Bloomberg article, “After Taiwan’s presidential election in January next year, the Chinese government may show its powerful strength, including military force, to tame the new Taiwanese government. The likelihood of a crisis in the Taiwan Strait is high.”

By. Lee Ji Won