Major General (Retd.) G. D. Bakshi warned that Taiwan could trigger a military conflict between the United States and China.
The warning comes as global power dynamics shift following a high-level meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Because Taiwan is a central point of contention for Beijing, any escalation on the island could draw the two superpowers into a direct war.
Bakshi said these remarks in a Republic World interview shortly after the Trump-Xi summit, which took place in Beijing on April 29, 2026 [1]. He argued that the island is the "core of core interests" for Beijing and that the U.S. may be perceived as strategically weakening. Bakshi cited factors such as trade disputes, economic instability, and the conflict in Iran as contributors to this perceived vulnerability.
"If Taiwan pushes the button, it could ignite a war between the United States and China," Bakshi said [2].
While Bakshi linked the recent summit to these risks, reports indicate the two leaders did not discuss Taiwan during their meeting [1]. Despite this, the strategic importance of the region remains high. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Taiwan is Beijing's "core of core interests" [1].
The U.S. continues to maintain its support for the island's autonomy. A senior U.S. official said to Reuters that the United States remains Taiwan's most important international backer [1].
Bakshi said that the combination of Beijing's resolve and a potentially distracted U.S. administration creates a volatile environment. He noted that the geopolitical landscape is shifting, making the Taiwan Strait a primary risk for global security.
“"If Taiwan pushes the button, it could ignite a war between the United States and China,"”
The tension between the U.S. and China over Taiwan persists regardless of whether the issue is explicitly discussed during diplomatic summits. Bakshi's analysis suggests that Beijing may view U.S. internal or external instabilities—such as economic volatility or other regional conflicts—as a window of opportunity to assert control over Taiwan, potentially forcing a military response from Washington.
