CBC: Intelligence agencies feared China would use Ukraine war to move against Taiwan, MPs told

[inanna]

Posted: Mar 02, 2022 6:43 PM ET | Last Updated: 19 minutes ago

Reports of Russian atrocities in Ukraine also being investigated, says Maj.-Gen. Mike Wright

As Russia prepared to invade Ukraine, allied defence intelligence agencies feared that China would use the conflict in Eastern Europe as a screen to take action against Taiwan, says the head of Canada's military intelligence branch.

Maj.-Gen. Mike Wright testified Wednesday before the House of Commons defence committee.

While there has been widespread speculation lately among security and intelligence experts about the risk of China moving against Taiwan, Wright's remarks represent one of the first public acknowledgements of that threat by a senior intelligence official.

(snip)

Wright said he believes China, which has allied itself with Russia, has taken note of the reaction among democratic nations.

"I would hope with the reaction of the international community, and specifically NATO and the West, that China would have pause for any of their authoritarian plans in the future," he said.

...

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/china-taiwan-ukraine-russia-putin-1.6370731

[Irish_Dem]

1. I keep saying this, hopefully people are waking up to the bigger threat from China.

China has nukes and is competent.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

2. China attempting middle course. Abstaining in UN but telling Ukr foreign minister in a call

... that they are paying "extreme attention" to civilian casualties, and they regret Russia has invaded.

[Chainfire]

3. China is testing the wind before they weigh anchor.

If Russia pushes the rest of the world around, then they may decide it is time. But if they go for Taiwan, they may as well go for broke and secure the old Japanese dream of the Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere. Freeing millions of people from Western Imperialism and replacing it with Eastern Imperialism. I would hope that S. Koreans are doubling the watch and sharpening their swords.

Of course, the Chinese may feel like it would be too damn expensive to lose the American market, and we know that money talks and diplomacy walks.