The risk of a war in Taiwan is growing, but much depends on the presidential elections to be held there in early 2024, Oleksandr Merezhko, chairman of the committee on foreign policy and interparliamentary cooperation, said in an interview with LB.ua. According to him, the risk of war will remain high in the coming years
Highlighting Taiwan's political landscape, Merezhko delineated the contrasting positions of the island's principal parties. "The Kuomintang leans towards fostering relations with mainland China, with some of its members not averse to the peaceful reunification of the island with China. Conversely, the Democratic Progressive Party, currently in power, espouses pro-Western inclinations and champions Taiwanese identity, even advocating for Taiwan's independence. Beijing's future course of action will hinge upon the election outcome," he posited.
Moreover, Merezhko underscored Chinese President Xi Jinping's imperative to demonstrate tangible progress during his five-year tenure.
"Xi Jinping's tenure must culminate in a historic victory for China by 2027, unifying Taiwan with the People's Republic of China. Consequently, the most precarious phase spans until 2027, marked by a notably heightened risk of conflict in Taiwan," he said.