China has made a decision to seize Taiwan on a "much faster timeline" than previously thought, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday after China's leader Xi Jinping reiterated his intent to take the island, by force if necessary.
"There has been a change in the approach from Beijing toward Taiwan in recent years," Blinken said in an event at Stanford University in California, according to Bloomberg.
The remarks from Biden's top diplomat on Monday come as China holds its twice-a-decade Communist party congress, and were in response to Xi Jinping's widely-watched, nearly two-hour-long speech on Sunday to say the "wheels of history are rolling on towards China's reunification" with Taiwan. While peaceful means were preferable, Xi added, "we reserve the option of taking all measures necessary."
According to Blinken, China has made a "fundamental decision that the status quo was no longer acceptable, and that Beijing was determined to pursue reunification on a much faster timeline." He didn't elaborate on the timing or provide other details.
Responding to Blinken's remarks on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin criticized the U.S. for selling billions in advanced weapons to Taiwan and accused the Biden administration of encouraging the island's move toward formal independence.
"Resolving the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese, a matter that must be resolved by the Chinese," Wang told reporters at a regular briefing. "We are ready to create vast space for peaceful reunification, but we will leave no room for separatist activities in any form."
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