China has been tipped to ramp up efforts to claim full control over the South China Sea to secure strong defence lines against the US in the event of a Taiwan invasion.
Xi Jinping has made no mystery of his desire to bring the island under Beijing’s authority despite the PRC never having held control over Taiwan since taking power in 1949.
Tensions have rocketed over the past year as China became increasingly engaged in a bitter row with the Philippines over control of Second Thomas Shoal, a submerged reef in the Spratly Islands.
Expert Patrick Cronin noted the islands are a crucial part of Xi’s plan to build up a resistant defensive line ahead of a potential invasion of Taiwan – which would likely trigger an immediate response from the United States.
The Hudson Institute expert argued the ongoing skirmish with Manila, paired with the construction of a growing number of artificial island reef outposts as the first steps in securing a clear path towards Taiwan.
Speaking to the South China Morning Post, Mr Cronin said: “A core PLA mission is to be prepared soon to forcibly unify Taiwan, should Xi Jinping and the Communist Party deem it necessary.
“These ambitions are deemed necessary by Xi to ensure Beijing will be able to act freely to unify Taiwan, a goal portrayed by the party as a prerequisite to national rejuvenation.”
China has been at odds with many countries in the Asia-Pacific for years because of its sweeping maritime claims over the crucial South China Sea.
In March, Beijing announced a 7.2% increase in its defence budget, already the world’s second-highest behind the United States, marking a massive military expansion.
The US has repeatedly urged China to stand down and renounce its aggressive stance towards its allies in the Indo-Pacific as it strengthened its cooperation with key countries such as Japan, the Philippines and South Korea.
Over the weekend, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Chinese counterpart held their sixth meeting since last year amid growing concerns about China’s increasing assertiveness in Asia.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Mr Blinken and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had had “an open and productive” discussion but had not reached any significant agreements on the issues that divide them most in the Indo-Pacific, Europe and the Americas.
Mr Blinken “made clear that the United States, together with our allies and partners, will advance our vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement that despite regular contacts, “the US has not stopped its containment and suppression of China and has even further intensified it.”
The statement said the risks to China-US ties “are still accumulating and the challenges are also rising” and that “it is necessary to constantly calibrate the direction, manage risks, properly handle differences, eliminate disturbance and promote cooperation.”
