Top U.S. Admiral Says The Timing Of A China Invasion Of Taiwan Is 'Highly Unpredictable'

Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander of the U.S. Navy's Pacific Fleet, speaks with reporters at the U.S. State Department's Foreign Press Center in Washington on April 4, 2022. (Kyodo)  

The Mainichi/Kyodo: Window for possible PLA attack on Taiwan ‘highly unpredictable’, US admiral says 

* ‘Many complex factors’ will play into decision to try to take the island by force, according to Pacific Fleet commander 

* Those factors include Beijing’s examination of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Samuel Paparo says 

The commander of the US Navy’s Pacific Fleet on Monday said the time frame of mainland China’s possible attempt to take Taiwan by force was unpredictable, with Beijing apparently learning from the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

Admiral Samuel Paparo also stressed the importance of “constant vigilance,” in what appears to be remarks intended to play down an assessment voiced last year by then Indo-Pacific Command chief Philip Davidson that Beijing could invade Taiwan “in the next six years”. 

“I think the window of a potential unification by force is highly, highly unpredictable,” Paparo told reporters in Washington, while noting that the so-called Davidson window was “actually based on open source speeches” made by Chinese leaders.  

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Update #1: U.S. should stay vigilant about commitments to Taiwan: U.S. commander (Focus Taiwan) Update #2: US offers view on chances of China attacking Taiwan (RT)  

WNU Editor: U.S. Admiral Samuel Paparo also comments on China's security agreement with the Solomon Islands .... US admiral lashes 'concerning' Solomon Islands security pact with China (ABC News Australia).