Former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen emphasized that Western governments have to clearly communicate to the Chinese leadership that any move to alter Taiwan’s status through force would elicit a united, cross‑the‑board response. He warned that such a course would carry serious repercussions across the economic sphere, signaling that Beijing would face coordinated action from allied economies and partners in the region. The remarks were relayed by Reuters as part of a broader discussion on deterrence and international norms surrounding Taiwan.
Rasmussen argued that any attempt by China to forcibly change the status quo in Taiwan should trigger a consolidated response from the international community. He noted that China today is more deeply integrated into global supply chains than Russia, which, in his view, strengthens the potential leverage of Western economies to impose meaningful costs should Beijing pursue coercive tactics. The emphasis, he said, is on making the consequences unmistakably clear to the People’s Republic of China so that any miscalculation is met with a predictable, united stance rather than episodic or fragmented reactions.
The former alliance head suggested that the prospect of serious, well-communicated consequences could serve as a robust deterrent against escalatory moves. Rasmussen added that Chinese authorities have reportedly been closely watching the ongoing conflict in Ukraine to assess its outcomes and the international response, informing their own strategic calculations. This observation underscores the strategic logic that regional stability and global economic order rely on predictable reactions to attempts to change borders by force, rather than ad hoc or isolated responses.
The dialogue surrounding these issues follows Rasmussen’s official visit to Taiwan, where he engaged with regional observers and policymakers about the implications of Taiwan’s status and security guarantees. His travels reflect a broader effort to anchor a cohesive Western position that blends diplomatic signaling with economic resilience. The discussions stress the importance of allied unity, clear red lines, and the willingness to sustain a coordinated approach that can absorb pressures from multiple fronts while safeguarding alliance credibility and regional equilibrium. The overarching message remains that Taiwan’s status should be addressed through peaceful means and international law, with any deviation met by a concerted international response attributed to shared commitments and responsibilities [attribution].