In this photo released by the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense, Taiwanese navy ship Keelung, (foreground) monitors the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong (background) near the Taiwanese waters in September 2023. (Photo: Taiwan Ministry of National Defense via AP)
Published October 13, 2023
Amid China’s increasing military pressure, Taiwan’s defensive posture has become more pronounced. Nevertheless, its recent arms purchases and National Defense Report show Taipei does not grasp the realities of an evolving situation, says international defence journalist Diego Laje.
Taiwan’s recent 2023 National Defense Report fails to grasp the realities of an evolving situation amid China’s increasing military pressure. Recent arms deals and the unveiling of a domestically built submarine suggest the island’s intent to beef up its defences, but Taipei is ignoring lessons from Ukraine at its own peril.
Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen has said that the island seeks “peaceful coexistence” with China, saying in a National Day address on Tuesday (Oct 10) that peace is the “only option”.
However, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu has previously warned of the possibility of a conflict with China in 2027. US intelligence also believes that Chinese President Xi Jinping – who has said before that Taiwan’s reunification with China is inevitable – has instructed his country’s armed forces to be ready to invade by 2027.
As it bolsters its defences, Taiwan is actively seeking support from the West. While doing so, it received an additional endorsement from the Biden administration.
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SOURCE: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/taiwan-defence-spending-priorities-china-tension-submarines-weapons-3839896
RELATED: Prepare for an indefinite future across the Taiwan Strait
A soldier holds a Taiwan national flag during military exercises at Taoyuan International Airport in Taoyuan, Northern Taiwan, Wednesday, July 26, 2023.
Published October 12, 2023
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has made the Western world aware of the perils of a conflict across the Taiwan Strait. Some observers worry that a crisis will occur as early as 2027, while others speculate about later dates as far off as 2049, the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, by which time China’s leaders surely hope to restore the nation’s territorial integrity. In the interim, of course, a tragic accident could trigger unscheduled kinetic action.
Uncertainty prevails, particularly when one takes into account changing domestic circumstances in Taiwan, China and the United States. Taiwan’s upcoming presidential election in January is only the most obvious immediate example.
Cross-strait relations are likely to remain tense for the foreseeable future, but steps ought to be taken to improve the situation to the extent possible for the indefinite period that lies ahead. Many new scenarios have been proposed but one that has received too little attention would build upon the experience of the past, namely the era of Ma Ying-jeou’s years as Taiwan’s president (2008-2016).
Despite Beijing’s longstanding formal position that it would never negotiate on an equal footing with the allegedly illegitimate authorities that rule Taiwan, Ma’s Kuomintang administration (KMT) and the PRC, by resorting to a technique that the scholar Holmes Welch long ago called “the Chinese art of make believe,” managed to conclude over 20 useful cross-strait agreements that forged cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, transportation and even joint crime fighting and mutual judicial assistance.
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SOURCE: https://thehill.com/opinion/international/4250578-prepare-for-an-indefinite-future-across-the-taiwan-strait/
RELATED: Israel-Hamas war prompts Taiwan to up threat watch
CLOSE WATCH Taiwan’s Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng speaks to the media outside the island’s legislature in the capital Taipei on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. AFP PHOTO
Published October 13, 2023
Taiwan is closely watching the Middle East war sparked by Hamas’ unprecedented attack on Israel for lessons amid what it says is China’s campaign of intimidation and threats against the self-governing democratic island.
The Palestinian militant group staged a stunning and massive incursion into Israel last weekend, killing hundreds in the Jewish state and dragging dozens into the Gaza Strip as hostages. In retaliation, Israel’s increasingly destructive airstrikes in Gaza have flattened entire city blocks. The latest conflict, which has claimed at least 2,400 lives on both sides, is expected to escalate.
Taiwanese Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said on Thursday the Israel-Hamas war “blew up so suddenly” that it prompted Taipei to step up its ability to forecast possible threats.
“We’ve established a working group to study and… reinforce the importance of collecting intelligence,” he said ahead of a meeting of the Taiwanese legislature.
