Taiwan has been told to "prepare and plan for aggressive action by China" after Vladimir Putin sent a "signal", a former Navy Rear Admiral has said.
Admiral Mark Montgomery told Jacob Rees-Mogg on GBN America that the KMT's message does not "convey the reality of aggressive, authoritarian China".
He spoke ahead of Saturday’s Taiwan elections, which are taking place against a backdrop of tension and uncertainty.
The three parties are comprised of Lai Ching-te from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Hou-Yu-ih from Kuomintang (KMT) and Ko Wen-je from the smaller Taiwan People’s Party (TPP).
Admiral Mark Montgomery ahead of Saturday’s elections,
GB News
Admiral Montgomery said: "I think the KMT had a view on China that was probably accurate in 2010 and 2012, where 'if we don't poke the bear, the bear won't bite.'
"And we have good trade and good foreign direct investment in each other's countries that China won't try to assert itself.
"I think that doesn't account for Xi's much more aggressive populism and nationalism inside China and Xi's belief that it is the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) legacy to reincorporate Taiwan completely and that he is in a cult of personality and embodiment of the CCP.
"So it's his legacy to reincorporate Taiwan.
He explained that Putin has sent ’signals’ of Chinese aggression
GB News
"Now that puts you on a much tighter time frame for taking action on Taiwan and that puts the KMTS plan in extremist.
"Just because you don't poke the bear doesn't mean that China won't take the opportunity to try to either through economic pressure, cyber pressures maybe eventually you know maritime pressure through blockades or even kinetic pressure through missile strikes and invasions attempt to force you away from independence and into a Hong Kong type situation."
"The KMT's vision might have been okay a decade ago. I don't think it reflects the current reality of an aggressive, authoritarian China.
"And just to prove my point, the unpredictability of Vladimir Putin, last February should be another strong signal that our understanding of when and why authoritarians take action is incomplete at best.
Admiral Mark Montgomery claimed that KMT's view doesn't 'reflect the current reality of an aggressive, authoritarian China'
GB News
"Therefore, you need to prepare and plan for aggressive action by China."
The DPP has always maintained a separatist stance from China, meaning the differences between the parties are less pronounced, according to Montgomery.
He said the contrast is "less sharp" and "less impactful" as a result, but a difference would still be in place.
The parties need to move towards closer relations with the US, he added, to effectively deter China from potentially undertaking military action.