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In addition, Mr. Bolton warned that the United States was not ready if China did decide to launch a military venture – something which Beijing would see as an \u201copportunity\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cWe’re still stuck in the post-Soviet collapse way of thinking that, you know, we’ve reached the end of history – we’ve let the defense budgets fall and we’re seeing some of the consequences now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr. Bolton added: \u201cThis is a window of opportunity for China, potentially, and it’s one reason why the Taiwanese I think are very properly concerned.\u201d<\/p>\n
The CCP – at the behest of Xi Jinping – has taken greater centralized control over the Chinese economy at the cost of an economic slowdown.<\/p>\n
Xi is the most powerful Communist Party leader in decades and has called for China to \u201cbuild a socialist ideology with strong cohesion\u201d.<\/p>\n
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In addition to his domestic policies, China\u2019s leader has kept the door open for retaking Taiwan by force.<\/p>\n
Tensions between the US and China have soared over the issue after a series of high-profile diplomatic trips undertaken by US and Taiwanese officials.<\/p>\n
Beijing has used increasingly harsh rhetoric concerning the democratically-run island which China sees as a rogue province.<\/p>\n
It is unclear if an attempt by Xi to take over the island by force would automatically mean war with the US, but President Joe Biden has on multiple occasions insisted the US would defend Taiwan.<\/p>\n
Those comments were quickly walked back by his aides but the US does provide the island with state-of-the-art military equipment with which to defend itself.<\/p>\n