US would be ‘crazy’ to go to war with China: former Chinese official
- The US’ strength does not match its strategic intent, ex-TAO deputy director says
- War over Taiwan is unlikely now, but the tension in the Taiwan Strait will intensify in the years to come, Sun Yafu says
Differences over the Taiwan Strait will only worsen as long as Washington treats Beijing as its rival for global dominance, according to a former senior mainland Chinese official.
At a seminar in Beijing on Monday, Sun Yafu, former deputy director of Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said that given the United States had declined in strength, it would be “crazy” for the US to go to war with China just to remain the world’s dominant power.
“While some say it would be wishful thinking [to hope] the Americans will to change their [hegemonic mindset] … their strategic intent needs to be supported by a matching strength,” said Sun, now vice-president of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, which handles ties with the self-ruled island.
“Currently the strategic intent of the US and its supporting strength are not balanced and are unmatched, unlike those of China, which are balanced and matched.”
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He said mainland China’s continued economic, technological, financial and military rise had raised serious concerns in the United States, which feared it would be replaced.
This also explained why Washington wanted to play the “Taiwan card” to try to counter the mainland, he said.