China is ‘learning from Ukraine’
Beijing ‘watching’ Western response as UK, Australia pledge to counter growing threat
China is learning “military lessons” from the war in Ukraine and is judging the United Kingdom’s “political will” for a struggle, defence sources have warned.
It came as the UK and Australia pledged to tackle the growing threat that Beijing poses in the Indo-Pacific, as Taiwan has again become a flashpoint in global tensions.
China has repeatedly threatened to take the self-ruled island, which it claims as its own.
Today, outgoing Prime Minister
Boris Johnson, Ben Wallace, the Defence Secretary, and Richard Marles, the Australian Deputy Prime Minister, will attend the commissioning ceremony of HMS Anson in Barrow-inFurness, Cumbria.
“The Defence Secretary has repeatedly said that what happens in Ukraine sends a signal of our resolve elsewhere, so not only are China watching but they are also judging our political will, as well as learning military lessons,” a defence source told the Daily Telegraph.
They said that were there to be an invasion in the Indo-Pacific region, “the West will stand firm with our allies and partners as we have with Ukraine”.
It is believed Beijing has reviewed Moscow’s invasion and the West’s response to see what lessons should be learned for China’s armed forces.
Beijing has considered that it took at least two days for Western leaders to respond when Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, invaded Ukraine on February 24.
It has been noted in China that Russia’s failure to defeat Ukraine within this window of opportunity allowed for significant Western support to grow. Avoiding making the same mistake with Taiwan will be key to avoiding a long, drawn-out war that could backfire on the
Chinese Communist Party, Beijing is reported to have concluded.
While Xi Jinping, China’s President, was previously thought to be preparing for an “armed reunification” of Taiwan at some point in the next five to 10 years, several Western governments believe an offensive will now come sooner.
Earlier this month, China repeatedly encircled the island to show its fury after Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, became the most senior American visitor to Taiwan in 25 years.
Yesterday, Taiwan’s military fired warning shots at a Chinese drone which buzzed one of its islands, in an unprecedented move prompted by weeks of repeated incursions.
Taipei has reported an uptick of drone flights over military outposts on remote Taiwanese islets since Beijing escalated its military drills in response to a Pelosi’s visit.
Last weekend it threatened to shoot down the drones if they did not heed warnings to leave. However, on Monday China dismissed Taiwan’s complaints about repeated harassment by drones.
“Chinese drones flying about Chinese territory, this is not something to make a fuss about,” said Zhao Lijian, the Foreign Ministry spokesman.