A congressional report states that the Chinese military has or is close to being capable of invading Taiwan.
“The PLA [People’s Liberation Army] has already achieved the capabilities needed to conduct an air and naval blockade, cyberattacks, and missile strikes against Taiwan,’ according to a report from the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, a congressionally-appointed agency designated to provide national security and economic advice to Congress and the president.
“PLA leaders will now probably assess that they either have, or soon will have the initial capability to carry out a high risk invasion of Taiwan if CCP leaders order them to. In the years ahead, they will keep enhancing their capability.
According to the report, Taiwan’s sea- and airlift capacity is sufficient for the PLA to launch a landing force of at least 25.000 troops.
The report stated that “Given these developments it has become less likely that U.S. Conventional Military Forces alone will continue deter China’s leaders from initiating a Taiwan attack,”
Biden met with Chinese President Xi virtually this week. He said that the world leaders had made very little progress in Taiwan.
Russian and Chinese warships patrolled Pacific Ocean waters in October
Photo shows drill at the Suao Navy Harbour in Yilan
It was argued by the commission that China would invade Taiwan if the US believes it is not militarily able to or politically willing to interfere, or if U.S. policy ambiguities are interpreted to indicate that an opportunistic Chinese attack against Taiwan won’t provoke a decisive U.S. response. response.’
The study found that Xi Jinping, the Chinese President, had a high tolerance to risk and a desire for a lasting legacy. These could have outweighed his concerns over US warnings about Taiwan’s attack.
It discovered that China’s nuke buildup is on track to be the US’ “nuclear peer” in both quality and quantity.
Un drill in Taiwan saw a US-made fighter plane release flames
A military exercise simulates an attack from China is conducted by soldiers armed with machine guns or grenades.
According to the report, China’s policy of nuke deterrence could be changed to one that allows for limited use of nuclear weapons.
US and NATO allies have a nuclear policy based on deterrence. That is, they do not build nuclear weapons to attack other nations, but only if the enemy attacks first. China could launch its first nuclear weapon unprovoked in order to reach a specific policy goal.
According to the report, “Such a strategy would allow Chinese leaders leverage their nuclear force to accomplish Chinese political purposes beyond survival such as coercing an other state or deterring U.S. interference in a war on Taiwan.”
A report concluded that China could use its improved nuclear abilities to incite a war against US-allied countries in the region. If they feel the US will withdraw due to their nuclear ability, the report said.
The report documents Chinese military training with barges, ferries and other civilian vessels to transport troops across the Taiwan Straits or elsewhere – in addition to conventional military transports.
China views Taiwan as nothing but an extension of its territory. Although the US acknowledged Taiwan’s independence in 1979, the two nations still have a strong unofficial relationship.
General Mark Milley of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told Congress in June that China did not have the ability to invade Taiwan.
He stated that China still has some way to go in developing the capability of conducting military operations without any kind of kidding to take over the whole island Taiwan, if they want to.
While the White House sent confusing messages about its Taiwan policy, President Biden said that the US “absolutely” had the duty of protecting Taiwan in case it was attacked. The White House’s Press Office issued a statement hours later saying that there had been no change in policy and that the US continued to follow the Taiwan Relations Act’s strategy of strategic ambiguity.
Biden told the crowd Tuesday that he has made very little progress in stopping China’s invasion of Taiwan. But he ruffled feathers when he spoke of ‘independence’.
“We made clear that we supported the Taiwan Act,” the president declared. He said, “Its autonomy.” It makes its own decisions.
Officially, the US doesn’t support Taiwan independence.
Biden, touting the bipartisan New Hampshire Infrastructure Bill (Bipartisan) that evening, stated that the US wasn’t encouraging independence.
I said they must decide Taiwan and not us. He said that we aren’t encouraging independence.
He said that he encouraged them to do what Taiwan Act required. This refers to 1979 law that governs Washington’s relations in Taiwan. We’re doing that. They can decide for themselves. Period.’
The US has a strategy of strategic ambiguity. This means that they are supportive of Taiwan’s defense capabilities without promising any assistance in case of attack from China.
But, Taiwan’s president recently confirmed for the first time that American troops are on the island of Taiwan training the Taiwanese military, and have been there for about a year.
Last week, Chinese military units held exercises close to Taiwan as a response to an American congressional delegation visiting the island.
According to the state-run news agency Xinhua, Xi blamed tensions in recent times on Taiwan authorities’ attempts to gain ‘US. Their independence agenda and the intent of some Americans that Taiwan be used to control China are both supported by them.
These moves can be dangerous just as playing with fire. Xi stated that anyone who plays with fire is likely to be burned.
White House reports that Biden reiterated the Administration’s commitment to ‘one China’, while warning against changes to the current status.
Washington is facing increasing challenges from China as the result of a crackdown on Hong Kong and the ‘genocide’ of Uyghur minorities.
However, Jake Sullivan, the National Security Advisor, stated this week that Beijing was ready to meet with US officials for talks on arms control. This is a position they have previously rejected.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP’s) intrusion on the private sector led to the report suggesting that Congress pass legislation to stop US investors pouring funds into Chinese equity.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), was asked by it to request publicly traded companies provide reporting on goods and service in their supply chain, that may be tied to forced labor of Uighur residents in the Xinjiang Province. Customs and Border Patrol would also need to put a stop to items originating in Xinjiang.
According to the report, Congress should’strengthen US deterrence against attack on Taiwan’ by enhancing military capabilities within the Indo-Pacific.