CIA Director Warns of Potential Chinese Invasion of Taiwan by 2027

The CIA has warned that Chinese President Xi Jinping has instructed the Chinese army to be ready for a potential invasion of Taiwan by 2027. This news comes from CIA Director William Burns, who noted that it is not clear whether Xi intends to use military force for unification.

US officials have also reported that the balloon surveillance equipment appears to be powered by a solar array, which would provide a reliable source of power at high altitude. Burns further commented that Xi had watched Russian President Vladimir Putin’s experience in Ukraine and was “a little bit unsettled and sobered” by Moscow’s performance on the battlefield.

Sources familiar with the matter have told CNN that the suspected Chinese spy balloon movements appear to rely primarily on the jet stream, allowing Beijing to predict its likely path. Additionally, China is able to control the surveillance balloon to an extent, such as by turning on and off the surveillance gear inside of it. This is why the US government has raised their concerns with Beijing about it.

The US government is closely monitoring the situation and is prepared to take action if necessary. In the meantime, the CIA will continue to assess President Xi’s ambitions with regard to Taiwan.