Moriarty Warns of China's Anti-Secession Law as 'Ticking Time Bomb'

James Moriarty urges swift countermeasures against China's 2005 Anti-Secession Law, calling it a significant threat to Taiwan's security. He highlights the importance of establishing a strong deterrent to prevent Beijing from using force against Taiwan, amid changing dynamics in Taiwan's push for independence.

James Moriarty, former chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan, has sounded the alarm on China's 2005 Anti-Secession Law, describing it as "a ticking time bomb." During a Washington seminar co-hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies and Taiwan's Prospect Foundation, Moriarty emphasized the need for a robust deterrent against this law.

The law, enacted amid tensions in 2005, provides Beijing with a rationale for using force against Taiwan, an alarming possibility according to Moriarty. Though it was originally a reaction to perceived provocations under Taiwan's Chen Shui-bian administration, the current landscape has shifted, and Taiwan's push for independence has waned despite the Democratic Progressive Party's continued governance.

Moriarty underscored the crucial need for counter-strategies, pointing to Chinese President Xi Jinping's centralized control and willingness to address the Taiwan issue head-on. He argued that peaceful reunification appears unlikely, making deterrence all the more urgent. The 2005 law explicitly targets Taiwan, justifying non-peaceful measures should Taiwan declare independence.

(With inputs from agencies.)