By David Brunnstrom
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Taiwan’s top China policymaker warned in Washington on Friday that China was preparing for war to retake the island and if Taiwan were to fall it would cause a “domino effect” in the region that would threaten the security of the United States.
Chiu Chui-cheng, the cabinet-ranked head of Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, told the Washington-based Heritage Foundation that China’s ruling Communist Party had long refused to renounce the use of force against democratically governed Taiwan, which it considers to be part of its territory.
He added that Beijing “has been actively preparing for war”, and highlighted stepped-up Chinese military activity around the island.
“If Taiwan were to be taken over by China by force, it will trigger a domino effect, undermine the regional balance of power, and directly threaten the security and prosperity of the United States,” Chiu said.
The United States is Taiwan’s most important international backer and arms supplier, despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties.
Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, saying only the island’s people can decide their future.
While senior Taiwanese officials visit the United States, such trips are much rarer than for major U.S. allies and generally much more low profile.
China’s embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Chiu’s remarks.
On Thursday, Chiu spoke to the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party on countering Chinese disinformation and strengthening Taiwan-U.S. ties, committee chairman John Moolenaar wrote on X.
(Reporting by David Brunnstrom; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Editing by Aidan Lewis)
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