Elsewhere, Mr Burns said China was carefully investigating Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and was likely to adjust its long-term plans to gain control of Taiwan based on the lessons of the war.
“Obviously, the Chinese leadership is trying to look carefully at the lessons it needs to learn from Ukraine about its own ambitions and Taiwan,” he said.
Beijing is “surprised” by the poor performance of the Russian military, as well as the fierce resistance coming from all of Ukrainian society, he added.
“I think they were struck by the way in which the transatlantic alliance in particular came together to impose economic costs on Russia as a result of this aggression.
“I think the Chinese leadership is looking very carefully at all this, the cost and consequences of any effort to use force to gain control of Taiwan,” he said.
Taiwan is under constant threat of invasion by Beijing, which sees the self-governing democratic island as part of its territory, which will one day be returned, if necessary, by force.
China has stepped up pressure on Taiwan since Cai Ying-wen was elected president in 2016, as she sees the island as a sovereign nation rather than part of Chinese territory.
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