Taipei, Taiwan —Recent years have brought heightened concern in Western intelligence circles that China could invade the self-governing island of Taiwan as early as next year. In 2021, Admiral Philip Davidson, then in charge of the Indo-Pacific Command, said China wanted to be ready to invade Taiwan in the next six years. The premise that Beijing could take action in 2027 became known as the “Davidson window,” fueling greater urgency in Taiwan’s military reform. Still, the growing frequency of Chinese military incursions around the island and worsening relations between Beijing and Taipei have raised fears that Xi might ultimately resort to force. A senior security official in Taiwan, though, told CNN the revised US assessment does not mean the threat had ceased.

Source: CNN March 19, 2026 08:29 UTC