China Worries About Ukraine, But Don't Underestimate Xi's Taiwanese Determination: CIA Chief

WASHINGTON, March 8 – China appears to be concerned about the difficulties Russia has faced since its invasion of Ukraine, but Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s resolve on Taiwan should not be underestimated, the CIA director said on Tuesday.

William Burns, who speaks at the House Intelligence Committee’s annual hearing on international threats, was asked if he thinks there is room for a more “productive” U.S.-China talk on Taiwan, given the economic damage Russia has suffered since its invasion of Ukraine. He said no.

“I would just say analytically that I would not underestimate the determination of President Xi and the Chinese leadership towards Taiwan,” he said.

“I really think…they were kind of surprised and dismayed by what they saw in Ukraine in the last 12 days, everything from the strength of the Western reaction to how the Ukrainians fought back fiercely,” he added.

Burns said he thought it “had an impact on China’s calculations on Taiwan, and we will obviously continue to pay close attention,” but did not elaborate.

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the opening of the China People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, 4 March 2022. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins/File Photo

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused particular alarm in self-governing Taiwan, which China considers its own and has promised to take back, if necessary by force. The island, which Washington is required by law to provide with means for self-defense, has raised its level of combat readiness, fearing that China will use the distracted West to oppose it.

Burns said he believed China did not foresee the difficulties the Russians would face and was also concerned about the “reputational damage” that Beijing’s close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the economic impact of an invasion of Ukraine could cause.

Director of National Intelligence Avril Haynes said at the hearing that China and Russia are moving closer on economic, political and security issues, but there is a limit to the rapprochement between the two countries. She said it was still unclear how the war in Ukraine would affect their ties.

“Looks like they [China] potentially paying the price for not criticizing Russia, and this could affect the further development of this trajectory,” Haynes said.

Scott Berrier, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, said Taiwan and Ukraine are “completely different things” when asked if Russia’s actions might encourage China to try to retake Taiwan.

“I also believe that our position of deterrence in the Pacific allows us to look at all this from a completely different perspective. We know that (China) is following very closely what is happening and how it is happening,” he said.

Reporting by David Brunnström, Michael Martina, Jonathan Landay, Doina Chiaku and Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Grant McCool

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