"Taiwan Rethinks Its War Strategy In The Event Of A ..." Topic

…Chinese Invasion.

"From cyber attacks to urban warfare, Taiwan defence experts have come up with a way for the island to defend itself against an increasingly powerful and richer Chinese military, without breaking the bank.

Speaking to The Straits Times ahead of Taiwan's release of its quadrennial defence review this week, they say Taiwan needs to re-draw its battle plans given a limited budget and manpower constraints.

Instead of becoming too reliant on the firepower of precision weapons, troops should hone their expertise in cyber warfare and take advantage of Taiwan's cities, using the concrete jungle to wear down their Chinese opponents, the experts, all former top defence officials, say…"
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Amicalement
Armand

I feel sorry for the Taiwanese, being treated like pariahs just so other countries can play kissy-kissy with the mainland. They've harmed no one, possess a de facto independent nation, they have a prosperous and relatively free state, yet they are shunned and persecuted in global affairs just because the mainlanders are carrying on a vendetta against a "breakaway province."

I read somewhere not long ago that Taiwan is having a hard time finding enough volunteers to keep its military up to strength. Young Taiwanese aren't motivated to serve anymore if they have alternatives. That's something that should be addressed.

If I were Taiwan, I wouldn't place a great deal of trust that the US would go to war with China over it, not unless the US was looking for a pretext anyway, or an invasion took place during a period of crisis. I bet China is planning for a war that would be so quick, they'd have their fait accompli before the US could react in a significant way. Would the Americans accept hot war with China over Taiwan, which it has consistently sold down the river since the 70s, occasional arms sales notwithstanding?

I'm more surprised that Taiwan didn't seek its own nuclear deterrent. Or that So. Korea doesn't.

I'm more surprised that Taiwan didn't seek its own nuclear deterrent.

I would be surprised if they already don't. Remember what I call "The Pariah Pact", Israel, South Africa and Taiwan were trading partners.

When I once put the question of "Why doesn't/didn't Taiwan create its own nuclear deterrent, they have the resources and the brains and the incentive," to someone in a position to know, the reply was that the US had given assurances to Taiwan that as long as they didn't increase tensions by going nuclear, the Americans would always guarantee Taiwan's freedom. So Taiwan abandoned nuclear ambitions (and I believe signed the non-proliferation treaty).

But that was a long time ago -- and I have to wonder what credence Taiwan places in US promises these days, esp. given the swings of public mood and changes in US policy over time.

That sure worked out for Ukraine…oh wait.

You know, the US actually told Mao back in 1949 to go ahead and finish the civil war, wipe out the Nationalists on Taiwan.

Unfortunately, by the time Mao got all his troops moved around to do the job, some idiot by the name of Kim had started a Communist invasion of a democratic nation, which meant that the US flip-flopped on the issue and told Mao that if he wanted Taiwan, he'd have to go through the Seventh Fleet to get it.

So long as the fiction called the 'One China Policy' is upheld, there is no reason for China/Taiwan to go hot.

Despite an earlier belligerent tweet on the subject, President Trump reaffirmed 'One China' in a phone call with President Xi, and Taiwan made no explicit objection to that call.

It's business as usual. China can wait, and Taiwan can enjoy its de-facto independence. And all the while China benefits from Taiwanese capital and business expertise, and Taiwan slowly becomes more and more economically dependent on the mainland. Some of Taiwan's more remote islands now import their water supplies from the Mainland.