Monday, December 13, 2021
Threat from China
Taiwan is prepared to face an invasion
Beijing regards Taiwan as a breakaway province. The island nation is aware of the threat. A Defense Ministry report concluded that an attack would pose considerable difficulties for China. The reason is, among other things, the transport ships used by the People’s Republic.
Despite massive demonstrations of military force from Beijing, Taiwan is convinced that China will face considerable difficulties in the event of a possible invasion of the island state. China’s transport capacities are currently limited and the People’s Republic is not in a position to land all armed forces at once, wrote the Taiwanese Defense Ministry in its latest assessment of the threat situation.
Because of “non-standardized” roll-on / roll-off ships, China is dependent on port facilities and on airports for their transport aircraft. “However, the country’s military is very strong in defending ports and airports and it will not be easy to occupy them quickly. The landing operations will be extremely risky,” the report said. The logistics are also facing challenges, as any landing troops would have to be supplied with weapons, food and medicine across the Strait of Taiwan, which separates the two countries.
China would also have to keep some of its armed forces in reserve. “The US and Japan military bases are close to Taiwan, and any attack would be closely monitored and China would have to withhold forces to prevent foreign military intervention,” it said.
Tensions between the two countries have increased in recent months. Taiwan has been complaining about Chinese Air Force operations near the island and military exercises in the country for more than a year. The government in Beijing regards the island nation as a breakaway province. From a Taiwanese point of view, China wants to test Taiwan’s readiness for action and tire its armed forces.