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Anthony Blink
Photo: Mark Makela/Getty Images
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warns that China could plan an invasion of Taiwan much earlier than previously expected.
Beijing has made the "fundamental decision that the status quo is no longer acceptable," said Blinken on Monday (local time) at an event at California's elite Stanford University.
“Beijing is determined to pursue reunification on a much faster schedule.” Blinken did not name a possible timeframe.
President Xi Jinping said in his opening speech at the Communist Party conference on Sunday that China would "never commit itself to renouncing the use of force" on the Taiwan issue.
He also condemned alleged foreign interference in Taiwan.
China is leading an "important fight against separatism and interference" in Taiwan.
Beijing sees Taiwan as a breakaway province that should be reunited with the mainland - if necessary with military force.
"Under the leadership of Xi Jinping, a completely different China has emerged in recent years," Blinken said at Stanford.
'It's more repressive at home and more aggressive abroad.
In many cases, this challenges our interests and our values.” The US Secretary of State accused Xi of creating “incredible tensions” over the Taiwan issue.
The Federal Intelligence Service (BND) meanwhile sees no new quality in the position towards Taiwan in the recent statements by China's head of state Xi Jinping.
BND President Bruno Kahl said on Monday at a public hearing in the Bundestag's parliamentary control committee that he saw no "immediate changes" in Beijing's approach to the Taiwan question.
However, the Taiwan question remains "very urgently on the agenda" for the Chinese government and is one of its "main priorities".
dop/AFP
