Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan s democratically elected President (Image: GETTY)
Ketian Zhang, an Assistant Professor at George Mason University s Schar School of Policy and Government, underlined China’s hardline stance on the issue in an interview with Express.co.uk last year.
She said: I would say the tension surrounding Taiwan has worsened since Trump took office, and the worsening of cross-strait relations is a gradual process. China does have a red line, which is that Taiwan should not declare de jure independence. If it does so, it is highly likely that China will resort to the use of force.
China s military power in numbers (Image: Express)