War over Taiwan would change world, says Australia ambassador to U.S. Kevin Rudd

Australia's ambassador to the United States, Kevin Rudd, cautioned in a speech that the global consequences of a war over Taiwan would be as great as the impact of the Second World War, making the world "a radically different place." If Chinese President Xi Jinping, who turns 71 this month, wanted to achieve reunification of Taiwan he would likely act in the next decade before he reaches his 80s, Rudd said in a speech in Honolulu on Thursday. The United States has expressed concern about Chinese military activity near democratically governed Taiwan, including after the island's presidential election and the…