China’s Post-Ukraine Playbook

Cipher Brief Expert and retired CIA Senior Executive Mark Kelton took part in a Russia panel during the recent Cipher Brief Threat Conference, along with Cipher Brief Experts Robert Dannenberg and Paul Kolbe, that was focused on Russia’s actions in Ukraine and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s long-term strategy and new alliances.  One of those alliances, is with China.

EXPERT PERSPECTIVE — Chinese President Xi Jinping kicked off the Chinese Communist Party Congress this week by saying China reserves the right to use force to effect, what he calls the ‘reunification’ of Taiwan with the mainland.  It’s a statement that should underscore the possibility that Xi, like Putin, is driven by an actuarial calendar that will cause him to move against the island much sooner than many have assumed.