Beijing's priority should be national rejuvenation, not Taiwan: Qiao Liang

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/05/05
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Using the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic as a window of opportunity to attack Taiwan would be too costly and damage the more important goal of national rejuvenation, according to a retired Chinese general known as a hawk.

With his comments, military strategist Qiao Liang (喬良) went against the current tide of ultra-nationalism in China, according to a report in Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post on Monday (May 4).

He said the country’s ultimate goal, a good life for 1.4 billion Chinese people, would not be served by launching an attack against Taiwan, so the island should not be Beijing’s top priority.

Even if an offensive by the People’s Liberation Army might not lead to a declaration of war by the United States, the latter might still join forces with its allies in the region to impose damaging economic sanctions and cut off China’s maritime lifeline in the South China Sea, according to statements by Qiao on the country’s social media.    [FULL  STORY]