“China’s security situation is becoming less stable. Uncertainty is growing,” Xi Jinping explained, according to Reuters, why Beijing decided to further militarize the country. News of the Communist leadership’s decision comes at a time when the West is on the brink of conflict with Russia over its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. There are fears that China could take advantage of the situation and invade Taiwan.

A Chinese invasion of Taiwan is likely to provoke military intervention by the United States and could trigger a chain of events leading to World War III.

Taiwan is an American ally, a major global semiconductor producer, and in addition, it fulfills a vital military-strategic role in the region as a sort of advanced American base – an anti-China barrier. Hence, Washington has stated that it will not allow a Chinese invasion of the island of 24 million. However, Beijing has repeatedly talked about it as a real possibility.

The already mentioned Russian invasion of Ukraine could become another trigger for conflict between the United States, and thus the West, and China. China, acting partly as a neutral player and partly as an ally of Russia (as it suited them), has never fully condemned the invasion. He initially refused to use the terms “invasion” or “war” in reference to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It was attached to Russia’s “special military operations” designation.

Just before the start of the invasion, Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a statement after a joint meeting about a new era of close cooperation. As the fighting intensified and reports of civilian casualties came in, Beijing mounted a partial counterattack. The recent statements include calls for peace talks and all efforts to be made to prevent a nuclear conflict.