China may take advantage of US turmoil to strike Taiwan in 2026
Photo: China is allegedly preparing an attack on Taiwan (Getty Images)
Western intelligence agencies warn that China could invade Taiwan as early as November 2026, according to Bild.
Asian intelligence sources have intercepted information suggesting that Beijing might launch an attack on the island if the United States experiences domestic unrest following the midterm elections on November 3, 2026.
Intelligence reports indicate that China anticipates potential political tension in the US, which could include the use of military force by the administration of President Donald Trump if election results are contested.
Experts say that in such a scenario, Beijing could exploit US distractions to launch a coordinated air and sea assault, aiming to end Taiwan’s independence after 76 years.
Security expert May-Britt Stumbaum from the Spira Institute warns that China is actively rearming, modifying civilian ferries for military purposes and planning to build over 70 large ferries by the end of 2026.
She adds that Beijing sees a military invasion as a last resort if peaceful reunification becomes impossible.
Taiwan's representative in Germany, Clement Gu, said that amid the threat from China, Taiwan welcomes support from other countries, including the US and Germany. Recently, nine nations sent military vessels through the Taiwan Strait as a show of solidarity.
Background on China-Taiwan tensions
Ahead of the October meeting between Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Peng Qingwen stated that Beijing does not rule out using force against the island while expressing willingness for "peaceful reunification" under a "one country, two systems" model.
China has long considered Taiwan part of its territory and calls the island's government "separatist." Since 1949, remnants of the anti-communist Kuomintang, which lost the civil war to Mao Zedong, have been entrenched on the island.
Meanwhile, Taipei insists that Taiwan is a sovereign state with its own political and economic system.
China's People's Liberation Army regularly conducts large-scale exercises near the Taiwan Strait, practicing scenarios for blockades and potential invasions.
Trump has noted that Xi Jinping understands the consequences of a Chinese attack on Taiwan.
