Ex-CIA chief, Defense Secretary Robert Gates predicts China won’t invade Taiwan anytime soon: ‘Don’t think they want to go in’
Former CIA Director and Defense Secretary Robert Gates believes that China is unlikely to invade Taiwan in the near future. He suggests that China prefers a gradual control over Taiwan rather than a direct military attack, which could damage valuable chip factories. Gates also expressed skepticism about the current capabilities and confidence of China's military leadership.
- ▪Robert Gates predicts low chances of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan in the coming years.
- ▪He believes China would rather pursue a Hong Kong-style transition than a military attack.
- ▪Gates noted that no current Chinese military leaders have combat experience since the 1979 conflict with Vietnam.
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World News Ex-CIA chief, Defense Secretary Robert Gates predicts China won’t invade Taiwan anytime soon: ‘Don’t think they want to go in’ By Samuel Chamberlain Published May 18, 2026, 7:46 a.m. ET See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The New York Post on Google Former CIA Director and Defense Secretary Robert Gates predicted Sunday that the chances of China invading Taiwan were “pretty low, particularly over the next several years,” despite Chinese President Xi Jinping’s bellicose rhetoric toward the self-governing island. “I don’t think they want to go in and attack Taiwan.
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