Taiwan Claims China Can’t Invade but Warns of New Weapon Developments

The Taiwanese defense ministry has issued a strong warning regarding China’s military capabilities, stating that while Beijing currently lacks the capacity for a full-scale invasion of Taiwan, it is actively developing advanced hypersonic weapons and other strategies to threaten the island.

In its annual threat assessment, the ministry highlighted the challenges China faces in crossing the Taiwan Strait and noted the inadequacies in its landing equipment. As of now, these factors hinder China’s ability to launch an effective invasion.

Despite these challenges, China is accelerating the development of a range of new weaponry, including the H-20 stealth bomber and a variety of hypersonic missiles. Additionally, there has been a marked increase in the number of nuclear warheads in China’s arsenal, and the military is testing new operational tactics.

China’s government views Taiwan, which operates as a democratic state, as part of its territory. Over the past five years, Beijing has intensified military and political pressure to reinforce its claims, which are firmly rejected by Taipei.

The assessment indicates that China may resort to increased inspections of foreign cargo ships. Such actions could effectively sever Taiwan’s connections to the outside world.

Following Lai Ching-te’s swearing-in as president in May, China conducted military exercises around Taiwan, marking the first time it deployed coast guard ships for interception and inspection drills off Taiwan’s east coast, according to the report.

The intention behind these maneuvers was to simulate strategies for isolating Taiwan from international communication and potential blockade. Boarding foreign cargo vessels poses a provocative option that falls short of outright conflict, the ministry noted.

Considering the Taiwan Strait is a significant international shipping route, the implications of such actions raise concerns among regional and global observers.

While China’s defense ministry did not immediately respond to inquiries about these assessments, a spokesperson commented during a regular briefing that peace cannot be achieved if Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party continues to advocate for independence.

The spokesperson, Wu Qian, stated, “The more they provoke, the faster they will perish,” emphasizing the stance of the Chinese government against Taiwan’s independence efforts.

In response to this growing tension, proposed defense spending in Taiwan is set to increase at a pace that exceeds economic growth in the upcoming year. This increase is aimed at enhancing domestic military capabilities, including a stronger focus on missile systems, submarines, and other essential defense assets to deter potential aggression from China.

President Lai, labeled a “separatist” by Beijing, has continually expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue with China, though such overtures have been consistently met with rejection. He asserts that it is solely the people of Taiwan who should determine the island’s future.

“True peace is achieved through strength,” President Lai articulated during a recent address to defense officers. “We will persist in bolstering our self-defense capabilities and convey to the world our resolve to remain united as a nation in safeguarding our homeland.”

In a demonstration of preparedness, Taiwan conducted drills involving anti-amphibious landing missiles recently aimed at deterring a potential assault from China. Troops utilized wire-guided missiles, known as TOW 2As, mounted on Humvees, targeting floating objectives off the coast in Pingtung County.