China could definitely spark war over Taiwan, deliberately or inadvertently, warns a defence strategist.

It comes with tension again flaring following the arrival of Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the United States House of Representatives, in Taiwan this week.

The Chinese military has reportedly announced a series of provocative “actions” in response, such as live-fire exercises in the sea surrounding Taiwan.

Michael Shoebridge, Director of Defence, Strategy and National Security at the The Australian Strategic Policy Institute, told Neil Mitchell it followed a “pattern” of behaviour from Beijing.

He says China was playing a dangerous game.

“The way wars start and end are often not the way you expect,” he said.

“He should be talking to his strategic partner, Vladimir Putin, about that right now.”

Press PLAY below to hear his analysis on the state of play

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