US intelligence is warning that China will push Taiwan to unify. That was part of a report by the Office of the Director National Intelligence, released on Tuesday.
The report says, “We expect that friction (across the Taiwan Strait) will grow as Beijing steps up attempts to portray Taipei as internationally isolated and dependent on the mainland for economic prosperity, and as China continues to increase military activity around the island.”
It also says, “Beijing will press Taiwan authorities to move toward unification and will condemn what it views as increased U.S.-Taiwan engagement.” The report also says that Beijing will continue to seek ways of undermining Taiwan’s democracy.
The annual report describes China as a strong competitor to the US: “China increasingly is a near-peer competitor, challenging the United States in multiple arenas -- especially economically, militarily, and technologically -- and is pushing to change global norms."
In the South China Sea, the report said, “Beijing will continue to intimidate rival claimants and will use growing numbers of air, naval, and maritime law enforcement platforms to signal to Southeast Asian countries that China has effective control over contested areas.”
It said that China is using various tools to compel neighbors to give in to Beijing's preferences, including its claims of sovereignty over Taiwan. China is also attempting to increase doubts about the US commitment to the East Asia and Western Pacific region, and it will challenge the United States’ alliances.