Wednesday 3 August 2022 02:36 PM Military expert explains what Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan means for Australia trends now
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All bets are 'off' for Australia if the US gets involved in tensions between China and Taiwan and sparks the biggest war in Asia since World War II, one of our leading security experts has warned.
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has made a historic visit to Taiwan to mark the island's highest level diplomatic visit in 25 years, angering China's communist regime.
Chinese President Xi Jingping has repeatedly declared the Chinese Liberation Army will annex the democratic island of Taiwan, 180km off its coast, as part of China's 'national rejuvenation plan'.
The island of about 25 million people, backed by the US and Japan, broke away from the mainland in 1949 when the losers of its civil war fled Mao Zedong's brutal communist regime.
Australia cut its diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1972, recognising the People's Republic under the 'One China' policy. But western democracies have continued to support the island's struggle against China's dictatorial lurch.
Lowry Institute's International Security Program director Sam Roggeveen has warned Australia will need to ask some hard questions about its relationship with the US if Washington intervenes in China-Taiwan relations.
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (pictured) reignited tensions between China and Taiwan with a made a historic visit to Taiwan
As The Project co-host Carrie Bickmore questioned China’s ‘empty threats, he stressed Beijing has always been serious about Taiwan as he outlined the potential ramifications Ms Pelosi's visit could have for Australia.
'If the Americans do get involved then all bets are off,' Mr Roggeveen told the program,
'We are talking
