Taiwan’s top official in the United States, Alexander Yui, has delivered a chilling warning about China’s escalating aggression towards the island nation. In an exclusive interview with Fox News’ Aishah Hasnie, Yui emphasized that Taiwan’s people are resolute and prepared to defend their homeland if China were to invade.
Drawing parallels to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Yui asserted, “Yes, of course,” when asked if Taiwanese residents would be ready to meet the challenge of a Chinese invasion. He pointed to Ukraine’s determined resistance against Russia’s invasion as a clear demonstration of their resolve.
The diplomat acknowledged that he hopes Taiwan will not require military assistance from the United States, similar to Ukraine’s situation, but suggested that such aid would be welcomed if offered. He posed a poignant question, “If your house is under fire, and they respond to help you with a bucket of water, would you say no?”
Yui attributed China’s increasing assertiveness to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s ambition to achieve what he calls his “China dream.” He emphasized that the level of aggression is not directly tied to the current U.S. administration but rather driven by Xi’s own aspirations.
The Taiwanese Ministry of Defense has been closely monitoring China’s military activities around the island. Just this week, they tracked eight Chinese military aircraft and two naval ships near Taiwan, with four planes crossing the median line that divides China and Taiwan’s territory in the Taiwan Strait. Beijing, which claims ownership of Taiwan, does not recognize this geographic delineation.
In the days leading up to this week’s activity, Taiwan’s defense ministry had detected an unprecedented number of Chinese military aircraft near the island – 43 on September 25th, with 34 crossing the median line, followed by 41 the next day.
Yui’s warning comes amid growing concerns that Xi is preparing China for a potential invasion of Taiwan by 2027, making the U.S. response a crucial factor in the upcoming November presidential election.
When asked for a message for Americans ahead of Election Day, Yui emphasized Taiwan’s commitment to peace and its shared values of democracy and freedom. He expressed the island nation’s desire to be a part of the global community after decades of isolation due to the ongoing conflict with mainland China.