Taiwan “must prepare” to defend itself amid threats from its neighbor, an expert has claimed. Tensions between the straits reached their highest point in decades when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in August.
China responded with a vigorous show of war exercises. Analysts claimed it wasn’t just a show of intimidation, as Beijing had to practice exactly how it could attack Taiwan.
For more than a week, more than 100 aircraft, 10 destroyers and support vessels were in the vicinity of Taiwan. China also sent submarines and aircraft carriers and even fired dozens of missiles.
Richard Lloyd Parry wrote for the Times: “The big unanswered question about defending against Chinese attacks is the role of the US. Washington has previously avoided a commitment to defend the island, a “strategic ambiguity” intended to sow doubts. in Chinese minds, while discouraging Taiwanese from openly declaring independence.
“However, President Biden has repeatedly said he would send troops to repel a Chinese invasion.
“Whether the next president will take the same stance is unknown, so in the meantime Taiwan should prepare to defend itself.”
The Times reported that Taiwan’s geographic isolation, protected from the mainland by 100 miles of choppy seas, offers it advantages that Ukraine lacks.
It stated: “An asymmetric defense would invest in naval mines, land-based anti-ship missiles and hundreds of small missile launchers, rather than large naval vessels, to take out amphibious craft as they approach landing sites.
“It would equip troops with small light vehicles for lightning strikes and with the weapons for an extended period of guerrilla warfare.”
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But China spends at least 15 times more. Beijing commands the world’s largest navy, and the PLA has more than two million salaried soldiers and 500,000 more in reserve.