US-China Special Committee Chair Warns "Military Conflict in Taiwan Strait Possible Before 2027"

Mike Gallagher "Already Entered an Extremely Dangerous Period"

The chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives' "Special Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party" (U.S.-China Strategic Competition Committee) warned that a military conflict between China and Taiwan could break out before 2027.

According to Taiwan News on the 17th, Mike Gallagher, chairman of the U.S.-China Strategic Competition Committee, suggested in an interview with Nikkei Asia in Japan that a military conflict between China and Taiwan could occur before 2027.

Michael Gallagher, Chair of the US-China Strategic Competition Subcommittee (Photo by Reuters)

Chairman Gallagher explained that the Taiwan Strait has already entered an extremely dangerous period. He added that 2027 might not be the year when the military conflict between China and Taiwan begins, but rather the year it ends.

Gallagher also noted that the Chinese Communist Party leadership is facing widespread and serious problems, including economic recession and population decline, and predicted that these issues could drive the CCP leadership to take dangerous actions.

Gallagher critically assessed the Biden administration's efforts to engage in dialogue with China, pointing out that the U.S. dialogue efforts could backfire.

This is interpreted as targeting U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's first visit to China on the 18th-19th since taking office.

The U.S.-China Strategic Competition Committee was established in January under the leadership of Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to discuss measures to respond to strategic competition between the U.S. and China at the congressional level.

In mid-February, Chairman Gallagher visited Taiwan and met with key Taiwanese security officials, including President Tsai Ing-wen, Vice President Lai Ching-te, and Minister of National Defense Chiu Kuo-cheng.