TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Only an effective military deterrent by Taiwan, the United States, and their allies can keep Chinese leader Xi Jinping (習近平) from trying to annex Taiwan by 2032, former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said Monday (Oct. 21).

Rudd presented his new book “On Xi Jinping” at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, DC. The former Labour Party politician now serves as his country’s ambassador to the US.

Xi will try to extend his term in office until 2032 and achieve “unification” with Taiwan by that date without military action, according to Rudd. He added that only an effective military deterrent by Taiwan, the US, and its allies could make Xi understand that China could face the risk of defeat, per CNA.

Key factors that could determine Taiwan's future are Xi’s evaluation of US military and economic deterrents and of its political will, Rudd said.

It is unclear whether Xi has a timetable for “unification,” Rudd said. The Chinese leader would observe every opportunity and might interpret any US stop in assistance to Ukraine as a turn to isolationism.