Report fuels worries Washington playing risky game with Taiwan

A Pentagon report on Tuesday plays into the hands of China hawks in the United States by whipping up the concerns about a possible attack on Taiwan by the Chinese mainland.

Instead of making wild assumptions and sowing the seeds of paranoia, the US should engage in serious soul-searching as its connivance has encouraged those trumpeting "Taiwan independence" on the island to become ever more strident in their calls.

The report released by the US Defense Intelligence Agency, titled China's Military Power, said: "Beijing's long-standing interest to eventually compel Taiwan's reunification with the mainland and deter any attempt by Taiwan to declare independence has served as the primary driver for China's military modernization."