{"id":63447,"date":"2023-02-06T16:59:25","date_gmt":"2023-02-06T16:59:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2023\/02\/06\/china-seizure-of-taiwan-not-imminent-says-key-dod-official\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:39:32","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:39:32","slug":"china-seizure-of-taiwan-not-imminent-says-key-dod-official","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/pentagon\/2023\/02\/06\/china-seizure-of-taiwan-not-imminent-says-key-dod-official\/","title":{"rendered":"China seizure of Taiwan not \u2018imminent,\u2019 says key DoD official"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The undersecretary of defense for policy, Colin Kahl, doesn’t \u201csee anything that indicates [an invasion of Taiwan] is imminent in the next couple of years.\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

WASHINGTON \u2015 There\u2019s no indication China will attempt to take Taiwan imminently, a senior Pentagon official said Tuesday, responding to an Air Force general\u2019s leaked assessment<\/a> that an attempt could be made in the next two years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The four-star in charge of U.S. Air Mobility Command, Gen. Mike Minihan, said in a recent memo to his troops, \u201cMy gut tells me will fight [China] in 2025,\u201d and urged them to prepare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asked about that timeline, Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl<\/a> said, \u201cI don\u2019t see anything that indicates that this thing is imminent in the next couple of years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kahl\u2019s full remarks on Jan. 31 were part of an exclusive interview with the Defense News\u2019 Early Bird Brief podcast<\/a>, which was released Monday. They preceded the most recent blow to strained U.S.-China relations: The U.S. military on Saturday shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon off the Carolina coast after it traversed sensitive military sites across North America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minihan\u2019s views reflected high-level concerns in the U.S. military over a possible attempt by Beijing to seize Taiwan, which China claims as territory. Both the U.S. and Taiwan will hold presidential elections in 2024, which could create an opening for China to cause trouble, Minihan wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin<\/a> said last month he seriously doubts China\u2019s stepped up military exercises around Taiwan means Beijing is planning an imminent invasion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. has bolstered military relations with nations such as Japan, South Korea and Australia in response to North Korean and Chinese aggression. Austin last week visited the Philippines and Seoul to strengthen ties.<\/p>\n\n\n\t