Jul 15, 2026 – 1.14pmFormer prime minister Kevin Rudd fears Chinese President Xi Jinping may underestimate US resolve to defend Taiwan and miscalculate to make a move to take the strategic Pacific Island democracy by force as early as 2028.Speaking to the Ezra Klein podcast in his new role as chief executive of leading foreign policy think tank Asia Society, Rudd described a dangerous window in two years’ time if an overconfident Xi, 73, viewed the confluence of presidential elections in the US and Taiwan as a “unique opportunity”.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles