China poses pressing threat, deterrence needed to avert invasion of Taiwan

China poses a pressing threat given its military build-up continues unabated and effective deterrence is needed to make sure any attack would be very risky for Beijing, Taiwan Defence Minister Wellington Koo said.



China does not currently plan to invade Taiwan in 2027 and seeks to control the island without the use of force, the U.S. intelligence community said on Wednesday, striking a measured tone on one of the world's biggest potential flashpoints.



Beijing has stepped up pressure on Taiwan, which it views as its own territory, with frequent military drills.



Taiwan's democratically elected government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims.



Speaking about the U.S. report, Koo said China has neither given up the option of using force against Taiwan nor slowed military spending.



"So its military expansion, and the threat it poses to us, remain very serious," he told reporters at parliament.



"We need to make it feel that any plan to attack Taiwan would carry a high degree of risk: in other words, to make its assessment of a successful invasion very low."



If China continues expanding its military while Taiwan's defence capabilities do not improve, the likelihood of an attack would rise, Koo said.