**Australia’s Ambassador Warns of Global Impact Comparable to WWII Over Potential Taiwan Conflict**
In a stark warning that reverberated across international waters, Australia’s Ambassador to the United States, Kevin Rudd, underscored the potentially catastrophic global consequences of a conflict over Taiwan, likening its impact to that of the Second World War. Speaking in Honolulu, Rudd painted a grim picture of a world transformed by warfare, urging global leaders to heed the lessons of history.
With the specter of reunification looming, Rudd speculated that Chinese President Xi Jinping, who celebrates his 71st birthday this month, might make his move on Taiwan within the next decade. This period, Rudd suggests, represents a critical window before Xi reaches his 80s, intensifying the urgency of diplomatic efforts to prevent conflict.
The United States, Taiwan’s most significant ally despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties, has expressed growing concern over China’s military maneuvers near Taiwan. These actions, particularly noted in the wake of Taiwan’s presidential election and the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te, have drawn sharp warnings from China against U.S. interference in what it considers a domestic matter.
Rudd, who served as Australia’s Prime Minister twice in the last decade and is a noted China scholar, emphasized the importance of not underestimating China’s military posturing. The pattern of recent military exercises, he argued, signals a clear and present danger that demands attention.
The crux of the issue, according to Rudd, lies in the United States’ ability to deter Chinese aggression. The credibility of U.S. alliances worldwide hangs in the balance, with the potential annexation of Taiwan by China posing a direct challenge to U.S. influence and the stability of international relations.
Echoing a sentiment of mutual interest in avoiding military confrontation, Rudd highlighted the dire economic, political, and strategic ramifications such a conflict would entail. The aftermath of a war over Taiwan, regardless of the victor, would leave the global landscape irrevocably altered, ushering in a new era of uncertainty.
As the world stands at a crossroads, the message from Rudd is clear: the stakes could not be higher, and the need for diplomatic resolution has never been more urgent. The potential for a conflict over Taiwan to reshape the world in ways reminiscent of the aftermath of the Second World War serves as a sobering reminder of the fragility of peace and the imperative of collective action to safeguard it.
(Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Sydney; Editing by Christopher Cushing)