War over Taiwan would change world, says Australia ambassador to US Kevin Rudd

Australia’s ambassador to the United States, Kevin Rudd, cautioned in a speech that the global consequences of a war over Taiwan would be as great as the impact of the Second World War, making the world “a radically different place”.
If Chinese President Xi Jinping, who turns 71 this month, wanted to achieve “final national unification” with Taiwan he would likely act in the next decade before he reaches his 80s, Rudd said in a speech in Honolulu on Thursday.
“We would be foolish to ignore the increasing clarity of China’s military signalling, including the pattern of its most recent military exercises,” said Rudd, who was twice Australia’s prime minister in the previous decade.
Whether China acts will depend on its perception of the strength of U.S. deterrence, he said.
The United States has expressed concern about Chinese military activity near Taiwan, including after the island’s presidential election and the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te last month. China has warned the U.S. should not interfere in China’s affairs with Taiwan.