As Russia prepared to invade Ukraine, allied defence intelligence agencies feared that China would use the conflict in Eastern Europe as a screen to take action against Taiwan, says the head of Canada's military intelligence branch.

Maj.-Gen. Mike Wright testified Wednesday before the House of Commons defence committee.

While there has been widespread speculation lately among security and intelligence experts about the risk of China moving against Taiwan, Wright's remarks represent one of the first public acknowledgements of that threat by a senior intelligence official.

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Wright said he believes China, which has allied itself with Russia, has taken note of the reaction among democratic nations.

"I would hope with the reaction of the international community, and specifically NATO and the West, that China would have pause for any of their authoritarian plans in the future," he said.

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