China stands to gain from US moving military assets for Iran war: cross-strait adviser
‘Any weakening of its presence in the Asia-Pacific will inevitably work to someone’s advantage – and you can imagine who that is’
Beijing could gain a strategic edge in the Taiwan Strait as US military assets are diverted to the Middle East, even though it remains committed to peaceful reunification with the island, a prominent mainland expert on the Taiwan issue said on Tuesday.
“Any weakening of its presence in the Asia-Pacific will inevitably work to someone’s advantage – and you can imagine who that is,” Li said.
With advances in area-denial capabilities in the Taiwan Strait, Beijing stands to benefit if US military deployments are eroded in the region, according to Li.
The Israeli-American military campaign in Iran has entered its 12th day, with Iran growing more defiant in the face of United States and Israeli pressure, and electing Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as its new supreme leader this week.
Meanwhile, concerns are rising that a prolonged conflict would change the posture of US forces in regions where deterring other powers is critical. The relocation of the US defence system has raised alarm.
“The People’s Liberation Army’s manoeuvres near Taiwan are becoming increasingly close, with its denial capabilities advancing significantly,” Li said. “These steps ensure full preparedness if action is ever needed. That said, we remain committed to resolving the Taiwan issue and achieving reunification through peaceful means.”
The PLA has conducted seven major exercises around the self-governed island since 2022, with the latest drills in December simulating a blockade of the island, closing off key ports, attacking maritime targets and repelling international interference.
The area-denial capability would prevent the US and regional allies, such as Japan, from getting close or providing support to the island in a military conflict.
Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the US, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-governed island by force and is committed by law to supplying it with weapons.
US media reported in late February that the Trump administration had delayed announcing a Taiwan arms sale package valued at US$13 billion that would surpass the record US$11 billion sale approved in December.
NPC deputy Li also called on Washington to bring to “a complete halt” its arms sales to Taiwan, rather than make a temporary gesture timed for coming high-level talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump.
The two leaders did not discuss Taiwan when they met in South Korea in October. But in a phone call with Trump in February, Xi urged Washington to handle arms sales to Taiwan with caution.
Li said he expected the arms sales would be a key topic in the next leaders’ summit late this month, while he also described a temporary pause as insincere.
“We hope the US will honour its commitments under the three China-US joint communiques. If the arms sale is discussed in talks and promises are made, the US side should fulfil those promises,” he said.
The management of US arms sales to Taiwan is governed by a complex set of historical documents. Washington is legally bound under its 1979 Taiwan Relations Act to help the island protect itself and provide “arms of a defensive character”.
In a bilateral communique between Beijing and Washington in 1982, Washington stated its intent to gradually reduce the quality and quantity of weapons sold to Taiwan.
Simultaneously, it pledged in its “Six Assurances” to Taiwan that it would not consult or get pre-approval from Beijing involving weapon sales to the island, nor set a date for ending arms sales.