The US military must be ready to respond to a potential invasion of Taiwan by Beijing as early as this year, an admiral warned on Wednesday, a sign of growing concern about China’s intentions towards the island, AFP reports, Agerpres reads.

Admiral Michael Gilday, chief of US naval operations, is the latest senior official in Washington to raise concerns that China’s President Xi Jinping may be much more willing than previously thought to seize Taiwan.

„It’s not just about what President Xi says, it’s about how the Chinese behave and what they do. Therefore, when we talk about 2027, in my opinion that (means) 2022 or maybe 2023. I cannot rule out this possibility. I don’t mean to be alarmist when I say this. We just can’t rule it out”, Admiral Michael Gilday said.

Agerpres