The island’s defense ministry stated that although China lacks the capacity to “fully” invade Taiwan, it is introducing cutting-edge new weaponry and has other ways to threaten the country, such as by examining international cargo ships.
Over the last five years, China—which sees democratically controlled Taiwan as its own territory—has increased military and political pressure to bolster its claims, which Taipei vehemently denies.
China has never denied the right to use force to annex Taiwan. No peace treaty or armistice has ever been signed, and the leadership of the vanquished Republic of China retreated to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war to Mao Zedong’s communists.
Taiwan’s defense ministry stated that Beijing is still honing techniques like joint command operations in an annual threat assessment of China that was issued to legislators on Friday and a copy of which was examined by Reuters.
It stated, “Yet, the natural geographical environment of the Taiwan Strait and inadequate landing equipment and logistic capabilities still limit the use of tactics and strategies against Taiwan.”
“The formal combat capabilities for a comprehensive invasion of Taiwan are not yet fully possessed by China.”
However, the ministry stated that China is accelerating the development of several new weapons, including hypersonic missiles and the H-20 bomber, and increasing the quantity of nuclear warheads while experimenting with novel strategies.
According to the article, Chinese coast guard ships were dispatched on interception and inspection drills off the east coast for the first time in May, when China held war simulations surrounding Taiwan, just after Lai Ching-te became president.
)
China might board foreign cargo ships as a last resort, the ministry stated, but its primary goal in conducting the drills was to rehearse shutting off all outside contact and encircling Taiwan.
International shipping routes are often used in the waterways surrounding Taiwan, particularly the Taiwan Strait.
A request for comment was not immediately answered by China’s military ministry.
The ministry said that there will be no peace as long as Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party “engages in ‘Taiwan independence’ (efforts)” during a routine press briefing on Thursday in Beijing.
Reporters were informed by spokeswoman Wu Qian that “the more they provoke, the faster they will perish.”
Taiwan plans to increase defense expenditure next year at a quicker rate than predicted due to its increased production of missiles, submarines, and other armaments as a means of deterring China.
China refers to President Lai as a “separatist,” and he has frequently offered to have talks with Beijing but has received no response. He asserts that the future of Taiwan lies with its people.
“True peace is achieved through strength,” Lai said to officials at the ministry of defense on Friday.
“We’re going to keep honing our self-defense skills and demonstrating to the rest of the world our unity and resolve to defend our country.”
