China could mount full scale invasion of Taiwan

[caltrek]

Taiwan to Start Shooting Down Chinese Drones
by Keoni Everington
August 29, 2022

Introduction:

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense (MND) on Sunday (Aug. 28) announced that soldiers will shoot down intruding Chinese drones that fail to heed warnings after yet more footage surfaced showing Chinese unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) compromising Taiwanese military facilities seemingly unchecked.

Photo and video footage has appeared in recent days on the Chinese social media Weibo showing Chinese (UAVs) blatantly violating Taiwanese airspace and taking close-up footage of Taiwanese soldiers, who in one case were seen throwing rocks at a drone. In the most recent incident on Saturday (Aug. 27), a Chinese drone captured footage of Taiwanese soldiers stationed in a lookout post in Kinmen County's Lieyu Township.

On Sunday (Aug. 28), the Kinmen Defense Command stated that in accordance with standard operating procedures (SOP), the troops fired warning flares at the drone and maintained surveillance and a high state of alertness. It then vowed that when future drone intrusions occur, the Army will take necessary countermeasures to "drive away" the drones, such as sounding whistles, broadcasting radio warnings, and firing signal flares, but if the UAV fails to leave, it will be "shot down."

On Aug. 24, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said that to improve base and aviation safety and wartime defense capabilities, remote-controlled anti-drone defense systems will be built at 45 facilities across Taiwan from 2022 to 2026. According to Liberty Times, more than NT$4.3 billion (US$141 million) has been allocated to the drone defense systems during this period.

In 2023, the MND will acquire five sets of drone defense systems and 232 jammer guns, with military facilities on outer islands to be prioritized. An official was cited by the newspaper as saying that before the implementation of the drone defense systems, a review will be carried out on the military's existing resources to devise a contingency plan.

Read more here: https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4641134

[caltrek]

Beijing Seethes as More U.S. and Japanese Officials Visit Taiwan
by Nadya Yeh
August 22, 2022

Introduction:

(SupChina) A string of foreign delegations are paying visits to Taiwan this week, in a series of moves likely to further anger Beijing, after it wrapped up a series of military exercises to protest U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s controversial visit to Taiwan earlier this month.

A bipartisan group of Japanese lawmakers led by Keiji Furuya of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party arrived in Taipei on Monday, just days after Japan’s national security adviser, Takeo Akiba, met China’s top diplomat, Yáng Jiéchí 杨洁篪, to shore up deteriorating relations between the two neighbors.

• A little over two weeks ago, Beijing canceled a meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Wáng Yì 王毅 and his Japanese counterpart to protest Japan’s part in the Group of Seven (G7) joint statement over Taiwan.
• Japan has been one of the most vocal U.S. allies to condemn China’s military exercises around Taiwan in response to Pelosi’s visit, though Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has also stressed the need for open communication.
• Another Japanese delegation paid a visit to Taiwan just a week before Pelosi did, though it did not spark a harsh response from Beijing.

Read more here: https://supchina.com/2022/08/22/beijin ... t-taiwan/

[wjfox]

Taiwan fires warning shots at Chinese drone near offshore island

August 30, 2022
2:54 PM GMT+1
Last Updated 18 min ago

TAIPEI, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Taiwan's military on Tuesday fired warning shots at a Chinese drone which buzzed an islet controlled by Taiwan near the Chinese coast, a military spokesperson said.

The drone headed back to China after the shots were fired, the spokesperson said. It was the first time warning shots have been fired in such an incident.

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-paci ... 022-08-30/

[caltrek]

Taiwan Plans Record Military Spending Amid China Security Fears
August 25, 2022

Introduction:

(Kyoto News) TAIPEI - Taiwan on Thursday earmarked a record annual NT$586 billion (US$19.4 billion) for its defense budget in the new fiscal year starting in January, amid China's growing assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific region and heightened cross-strait tensions.

The Executive Yuan, or Cabinet, approved a general budget of NT$2.71 trillion for fiscal 2023, a 20 percent increase from a year earlier. Of that amount, NT$586.3 billion has been requested by the Defense Ministry, up about 14 percent, or NT$70 billion, from the current year.

The proposed budget comes as China has been ramping up military pressure on Taiwan, following U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the island earlier this month, which triggered large-scale live-fire military drills by China around Taiwan.

Military spending topped NT$300 billion in 2012, with this year marking the highest amount of NT$372.6 billion.

When the special budget and other expenditures were factored in, the overall budget came to about NT$500 billion this year, equivalent to around 2 percent of gross national product.

Read more here: https://english.kyodonews.net/news/202 ... ears.html

[caltrek]

US Approves Potential $1.1 Billion Weapons Sale to Taiwan
September 2, 2022

Introduction:

(Al Jazeera) The United States approved the potential sale of $1.1bn in weapons to Taiwan in a move likely worsen already heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing.

The announcement came as two Chinese fighter jets on Saturday crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, which normally serves as an unofficial barrier between the two sides, Taiwan’s defence ministry said.

A total of four Chinese aircraft and five Chinese ships were operating around Taiwan, it said.

The Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said on Friday the arms package would include 60 anti-ship missiles, 100 air-to-air missiles and contractor logistics support for a surveillance radar programme.

Read more here: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/9/ ... -pentagon

[weatheriscool]

I wouldn't be shocked to see China attack within the next few years. It is clear that they want the island. Hold onto your asses.

[caltrek]

Taiwan Moves Anti-drone Guns to Offshore Islands Due to China Threat
by Matthew Strong
September 2, 2022

Introduction:

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense said Friday (Sept. 2) it had moved anti-drone guns to the offshore islands of Kinmen and Matsu following several incidents with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) believed to have flown in from China.

Civilian drones have been spotted above Taiwan-held islands close to the coast of China’s Fujian Province for several days, with one of them shot down over the sea in Kinmen County on Thursday (Sept. 1) after it failed to heed warnings. The appearance of the UAVs is seen as yet another sign of China’s provocative behavior, in addition to recent large-scale military maneuvers and the almost daily incursions of Chinese warplanes into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ).

On Friday, soldiers stationed on Kinmen County’s Lieyu Islet, 10 kilometers from the Chinese coast, fired flares, multiple times, to chase away civilian-operated Chinese UAVs, CNA reported.

The military said it was advocating a flexible response in the wake of the drone incursions, adding it had equipped soldiers on the islands with anti-drone weapons. The guns jam the frequency used by the ground station to communicate with the drone, resulting in the UAV spinning out of control and crashing.

Read more here: https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4646074

[Lorem Ipsum]

I wouldn't be shocked to see China attack within the next few years. It is clear that they want the island. Hold onto your asses.

I remember status updates from last year saying the same about Ukraine

[funkervogt]

China tries to boost its domestic food production, mindful that an enemy blockade that blocked food imports would quickly plunge the country into famine.
https://theupheaval.substack.com/p/why- ... -with-food

[weatheriscool]

China dials down Taiwan rhetoric; US, Canada transit strait
Source: AP

By KEN MORITSUGU

BEIJING (AP) — China toned down its rhetoric on Taiwan on Wednesday, saying it is inevitable that the self-governing island will come under its control but that it would promote efforts to achieve that peacefully.

The comments followed recent remarks by President Joe Biden that the U.S. would defend Taiwan if China were to invade and came a day after U.S. and Canadian warships sailed through the Taiwan Strait.

They don’t appear to signal a change in policy as much as a broader attempt to calm the waters on multiple fronts in the runup to a major meeting of the ruling Communist Party next month.

“I would like to reiterate that … we are willing to strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification with the greatest sincerity and utmost efforts,” Ma Xiaoguang, the government spokesperson on Taiwan, said when asked about growing concern that China might resort to force.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/taiwan-canad ... f4f51cda05

[caltrek]

Just another piece on a very large and complex chess board to keep in mind:

Taiwan’s New Amphibious Assault Ship Bristles with Anti-Air Missiles
by Thomas Newdick
September 30, 2022

Introduction:

(The Drive) Taiwan today formally introduced into service the first of a new class of amphibious assault ships to the Republic of China Navy, or ROCN. While the lead ship of the Yushan class of landing platform docks, or LPDs, has similarities with the U.S. San Antonio class, what’s immediately notable is its relatively enormous anti-aircraft firepower, with launch cells for no fewer than 32 medium-range surface-to-air missiles. This is almost certainly the first time an assault ship of this type has packed such a powerful air defense capability.

In a ceremony today in the southern port city of Kaohsiung, the Yushan (LPD-1401) was officially transferred to the ROCN today, in the presence of President Tsai Ing-wen.

(The article linked below also includes many Twitter feeds relevant to the subject of the article)

The Yushan was built by the state-owned China Shipbuilding Corporation (CSBC), which laid the keel of the vessel in June 2020 and then launched it in April 2021. At-sea trials then began in July this year.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Tsai said the new vessel reflected Taiwan’s path to “national defense autonomy,” which includes local production of advanced warships and submarines.

“When it comes to China’s military threats, only by strengthening our self-defense capabilities can there be true peace,” Tsai said, according to a report from Reuters. “It is our constant policy and determination to implement national defense autonomy so that the military has the best equipment to defend the country.”

Read more here: https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/ ... -missiles

[caltrek]

Taiwanese Give U.S. Moderate 'Likability' Score, China Places Low
by Keoni Everington
October 4, 2022

Introduction:

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — According to an opinion poll released on Monday (Oct. 3), Taiwanese gave the U.S. a moderate score in terms of "likability" while they gave China very low marks in the category.

On Monday, Kuomintang (KMT) Legislator Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) led a press conference about the latest poll by the Foundation for the People (啟思民本基金會), which he also chairs. When asked to rate the U.S. in terms of "likability" on a scale of one to 10, they gave the U.S. a 5.55, while China came in very low at 2.82.

China's low score prompted Chiang to advise the Chinese Communist Party to "pay special attention to the perceptions of the Taiwanese people." Chiang said that the pressure on Chinese Chairman Xi Jinping (習近平) to resort to using force against Taiwan is growing and the easing of the confrontation and tensions across the strait is a serious issue that the ruling party in Taiwan must face.

When asked if they had heard of the proposed "Taiwan Policy Act," 77% said they had heard of the bill. Asked whether the proposed bill offering US$6.5 billion (NT$206 billion) in military aid would undermine Taiwan's independent defense capabilities, 26.5% of respondents "strongly agreed" that it would, 23.6% "agreed," 19.1% "disagreed," and 23.9% "strongly disagreed."

Posed with the question of whether the U.S. would send troops to defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion, 21.6% said "definitely," 26.5% said it "might," 18.2% said it "might not," and 27.4% said that the U.S. "definitely will not."

Read more here: https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4676927

caltrek's comments: One thing about the war in the Ukraine is it does concentrate the thinking process in Beijing about the perceived legitimacy of a future move against their island neighbors. Overwhelming numbers may favor the mainland. Yet, an island nation equipped with modern arms surely must give them pause to think of the consequences of a full throttle invasion.

[caltrek]

China Shows Off 'Jet-powered Surfboards' to Invade Taiwan
by Keoni Everington
October 4, 2022

Introduction:

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Video surfaced last week showing People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers practicing an amphibious landing while riding on jet-power surfboards.

In recent years, the PLA has stepped up preparations for an amphibious assault on Taiwan with the development of amphibious tanks, hovercraft, landing platform docks, and civilian roll-on roll-off (RoRo) ferries. Late last month and early this month, seven Chinese civilian car ferries were spotted engaging in amphibious landing drills on Chinese beaches in the Taiwan Strait.

On Sept. 27, military enthusiast @louischeung_hk posted a 24-second video on Twitter showing PLA frogmen riding what appear to be jet-powered surfboards. The video originates from China Youth Daily and was posted on the Weibo account Four minutes and thirty-three seconds (四分三十三秒) that same day.

In the video, soldiers in black wetsuits can be seen carrying large, waterproof rucksacks and they lie prone on surfboards. The tiny craft are only large enough to hold one man and are self-propelled. One rider can be seen wearing goggles, and the face of another can be seen in another shot as he peers over the board.

After focusing on individual riders, the camera pans out to show a full squad of 12 men who can be seen riding the surfboards in tight formation. Towards the end of the video, the frogmen can be seen landing on a beach and discarding their boards as they are guided in by a man waving red flags.

Read more here: https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4676643

[wjfox]

Elon Musk suggests making Taiwan a ‘special administrative zone’ similar to Hong Kong

Sat 8 Oct 2022 03.46 BST

Elon Musk has suggested tensions between China and Taiwan could be resolved by handing over some control of Taiwan to Beijing.

The billionaire’s remarks were published just days after he floated a possible deal to end the war between Russia and Ukraine which drew condemnation in Ukraine.

The world’s richest person told the Financial Times in an interview published on Friday: “My recommendation … would be to figure out a special administrative zone for Taiwan that is reasonably palatable, probably won’t make everyone happy. And it’s possible, and I think probably, in fact, that they could have an arrangement that’s more lenient than Hong Kong.”

Musk made the suggestion when asked by the newspaper about China, where his Tesla electric car company operates a large factory in Shanghai. The Shanghai factory accounted for about half of Tesla’s global deliveries last year.

Musk believed that conflict over Taiwan was inevitable, the FT report said, and warned of its potential impact on not only Tesla but also on iPhone maker Apple as well as the wider global economy, which he estimated would take a 30% hit.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/ ... -hong-kong

[caltrek]

^^^What is especially disturbing about this is that it now appears that Musk is back on track to take ownership of Twitter. So, it is not just the rantings of some out of touch billionaire, but also reflects the thinking of someone who may be about to take control of an extremely important media source.

[ººº]

Elon Musk suggests making Taiwan a ‘special administrative zone’ similar to Hong Kong

Sat 8 Oct 2022 03.46 BST

Elon Musk has suggested tensions between China and Taiwan could be resolved by handing over some control of Taiwan to Beijing.

The billionaire’s remarks were published just days after he floated a possible deal to end the war between Russia and Ukraine which drew condemnation in Ukraine.

The world’s richest person told the Financial Times in an interview published on Friday: “My recommendation … would be to figure out a special administrative zone for Taiwan that is reasonably palatable, probably won’t make everyone happy. And it’s possible, and I think probably, in fact, that they could have an arrangement that’s more lenient than Hong Kong.”

Musk made the suggestion when asked by the newspaper about China, where his Tesla electric car company operates a large factory in Shanghai. The Shanghai factory accounted for about half of Tesla’s global deliveries last year.

Musk believed that conflict over Taiwan was inevitable, the FT report said, and warned of its potential impact on not only Tesla but also on iPhone maker Apple as well as the wider global economy, which he estimated would take a 30% hit.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/ ... -hong-kong

Elon Musk proposes to purchase land from South Africa to found ‘Elonia’

[wjfox]

Chinese Foreign Ministry: 'Taiwan will enjoy high degree of autonomy as special administrative region'

09 Oct 2022

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Sunday said Taiwan will enjoy a high degree of autonomy as a special administrative region after reunification, in its second response to Tesla CEO Elon Musk's remarks about China's Taiwan region.

The billionaire said he recommended "a special administrative zone for Taiwan" in an interview with the Financial Times published on Friday.

"Provided that China's sovereignty, security and development interests are guaranteed, after reunification Taiwan will enjoy a high degree of autonomy as a special administrative region," Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, told reporters at a regular press briefing in Beijing.

Taiwan's social system and its way of life will be fully respected, and the private property, religious beliefs, and lawful rights and interests of the people in Taiwan will be fully protected, Mao added.

The spokesperson said the reunification of China will not harm the legitimate interests of any other country, including any economic interests they might have in Taiwan.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-10-09/- ... index.html

[Xyls]

Nonsense. We all saw how well China respects agreements with how they have treated Hong Kong.

I'm sure China will have second thoughts regarding invading Taiwan though seeing how the whole Ukrainian affair is going for Russia.

[weatheriscool]

China's Xi calls for military growth as party congress opens
Source: AP

By JOE McDONALD

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Sunday called for faster military development and announced no change in policies that have strained relations with Washington and tightened the ruling Communist Party’s control over society and the economy.

China’s most influential figure in decades spoke as the party opened a congress that was closely watched by companies, governments and the public for signs of official direction. It comes amid a painful slump in the world’s second-largest economy and tension with Washington and Asian neighbors over trade, technology and security.

Party plans calls for creating a prosperous society by mid-century and restoring China to its historic role as a political, economic and cultural leader. Beijing has expanded its presence abroad including a multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative to build ports and other infrastructure across Asia and Africa, but economists warn reversing market-style reform could hamper growth.

“The next five years will be crucial,” Xi said in a televised speech of one hour and 45 minutes to some 2,000 delegates in the cavernous Great Hall of the People. He repeatedly invoked his slogan of the “rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” which includes reviving the party’s role as economic and social leader in a throwback to what Xi regards as a golden age after it took power in 1949.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/china-beijin ... osition_01

[caltrek]

Anthony Blinken Indicates that Beijing is Speeding Up Plans to Seize Taiwan
by Rebecca Falconer
Updated October 18, 2022

Introduction:

(Axios) China's ruling party plans to annex Taiwan on a "much faster timeline" under Chinese President Xi Jinping than previously thought, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Monday.

Of note: Blinken's comments at an event at Stanford University in California come days after Xi said during a Chinese Communist Party congress speech the "wheels of history are rolling on towards China's reunification" with Taiwan and "we reserve the option of taking all measures necessary."

What he's saying: "There has been a change in the approach from Beijing toward Taiwan in recent years," Blinken said at the Stanford forum with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

• "Instead of sticking with the status quo that was established in a positive way, a fundamental decision that the status quo was no longer acceptable and that Beijing was determined to pursue reunification on a much faster timeline," he continued.

• "And if peaceful means didn’t work, then it would employ coercive means and possibly, if coercive means don’t work, maybe forceful means — to achieve its objectives. And that is what is profoundly disrupting the status quo and creating tremendous tensions."

Read more here: https://www.axios.com/2022/10/18/china ... r-blinken