The Chinese ambassador to Australia shared a confronting message yesterday, saying China reserves the right to use force as an option to seize control of Taiwan.

Speaking to the National Press Club, Xiao Qian said “the 1.4 billion Chinese people are absolutely determined to protect our sovereignty [and] territory, to never allow Taiwan to be separated from China”.

Xiao has endorsed a Chinese government document which says Beijing reserves “the option of taking all necessary measures”, deepening fears of war just days after Chinese missile launches and naval drills.

Emeritus Professor John Fitzgerald from the Centre for Social Impact as Swinburne University says “it was a bit of a wake-up call for Australians”.

“China has been saying since 1972, really, that it reserves the right to use force if it must,” he told Ross and Russel.

But he doesn’t expect China to use force against Taiwan in the near future.

“We have hope and reason to think China will not invade Taiwan any time soon because Taiwan is not imposing independence and it is not led by separatist forces,” he said.

Press PLAY below to hear Professor Fitzgerald’s analysis of the ambassador’s comments

Image: Chu Chen/Xinhua via Getty Images