Alex Tan, political science professor who specialises in Asian politics at Canterbury University, told AM on Tuesday the language used by Xi in his speeches shows China is worried about the global economic situation. “The language that is being used in the speeches and in his speech particularly acknowledges China’s concern about global economic volatility, the global political situation from Ukraine all the way to our region [New Zealand],” Tan told AM fill-in co-host Patrick Gower. “The emphasis on those securities is two parts. It’s the traditional military security concerns and national security concerns, but also the economic security concerns.” Tan believes China won’t invade Taiwan in the next five years.
