northern watch
TB Fanatic
Now we know a new military alliance AUKUS
WAR CHINA THREATENS TO INVADE TAIWAN
- Thread starter danielboon
- Start date
danielboon
TB Fanatic
marsh
On TB every waking moment
31:02 min
China Threatens To Send WARSHIPS To US Territory, Gen. Milley Subverted And Weakened The US Military
Sep 16, 2021
Tim Pool
China Threatens To Send WARSHIPS To US Territory, Gen. Milley Subverted And Weakened The US Military. China is challenging the US's claim to sail the south china sea in defense of its allies. Biden choosing to retain Milley amid the ongoing scandal is further weakening US foreign policy at a time when China is growing in power and threatening to take Taiwan.
danielboon
TB Fanatic
EndGameWW3
@EndGameWW3
From earlier today...Taiwan Update: This makes 14 days in a row now that China has sent military aircraft into Taiwan's ADIZ...
Quote Tweet
國防部 Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C.
@MoNDefense
· 12h
3 PLA aircraft (J-16*2 and Y-8 EW) entered #Taiwan’s southwest ADIZ in the morning of September 16, 2021. Please check our official website for more information: 中華民國國防部-全球資訊網-即時軍事動態
@EndGameWW3
From earlier today...Taiwan Update: This makes 14 days in a row now that China has sent military aircraft into Taiwan's ADIZ...
Quote Tweet
國防部 Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C.
@MoNDefense
· 12h
3 PLA aircraft (J-16*2 and Y-8 EW) entered #Taiwan’s southwest ADIZ in the morning of September 16, 2021. Please check our official website for more information: 中華民國國防部-全球資訊網-即時軍事動態
northern watch
TB Fanatic
Daniel,EndGameWW3
@EndGameWW3
From earlier today...Taiwan Update: This makes 14 days in a row now that China has sent military aircraft into Taiwan's ADIZ...
Quote Tweet
國防部 Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C.
@MoNDefense
· 12h
3 PLA aircraft (J-16*2 and Y-8 EW) entered #Taiwan’s southwest ADIZ in the morning of September 16, 2021. Please check our official website for more information: 中華民國國防部-全球資訊網-即時軍事動態
Someday. we will hear that the Chinese invasion has begun.
danielboon
TB Fanatic
Knightess Duckworth Telegram: https://t.me/THKess
@ms_duckworth
URGENT – Taiwan Armed Forces in full combat readiness alert across land, air & sea to respond to any threat by Communist China.
6:27 AM · Sep 17, 2021·Twitter for iPad
danielboon
TB Fanatic
Taiwan jets fight off simulated enemy on final day of Han Kuang exercise
IDFs took off from Taichung International Airport to conduct aerial counterattack drill
502
By Kelvin Chen, Taiwan News, Staff Writer
2021/09/17 16:40
IDFs at Taichung International Airport. (Military News Agency photo)
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Air Force conducted a counterattack drill on Friday (Sept. 17), the last day of the Han Kuang military exercise, which involved Indigenous Defense Fighters (IDF) driving away simulated enemy aircraft.
On Friday morning, IDFs took off from Taichung International Airport to carry out a counterattack mission, CNA reported. The fighters completed a variety of takeoffs before flying, intended to test the training of pilots and ground crew.
The IDF is responsible for defending the airspace around the Taiwan Strait, according to Military News Agency.
Over the past five days, the military has conducted combat strength preservation exercises, anti-landing artillery target practice, highway take-off and landing drills, medical emergency response drills, beach counterattack simulations, and military maneuvers protecting the Tamsui River.
www.taiwannews.com.tw
IDFs took off from Taichung International Airport to conduct aerial counterattack drill
502
By Kelvin Chen, Taiwan News, Staff Writer
2021/09/17 16:40
IDFs at Taichung International Airport. (Military News Agency photo)
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Air Force conducted a counterattack drill on Friday (Sept. 17), the last day of the Han Kuang military exercise, which involved Indigenous Defense Fighters (IDF) driving away simulated enemy aircraft.
On Friday morning, IDFs took off from Taichung International Airport to carry out a counterattack mission, CNA reported. The fighters completed a variety of takeoffs before flying, intended to test the training of pilots and ground crew.
The IDF is responsible for defending the airspace around the Taiwan Strait, according to Military News Agency.
Over the past five days, the military has conducted combat strength preservation exercises, anti-landing artillery target practice, highway take-off and landing drills, medical emergency response drills, beach counterattack simulations, and military maneuvers protecting the Tamsui River.
Taiwan jets fight off simulated enemy on final day of Han Kuang exercise | Taiwan News | 2021-09-17 16:40:00
IDFs took off from Taichung International Airport to conduct aerial counterattack drill | 2021-09-17 16:40:00
www.taiwannews.com.tw
danielboon
TB Fanatic
Very dangerous situation developing with China and Taiwan
okie-carbine
Veteran Member
Don't forget: they will not have any knowledge that a chinese attack was imminent. They were not a direct threat to national security. The chinese are a peaceful people.
northern watch
TB Fanatic
True that, Okie.
Our lying media will be all-in to spin it as a-ok when the chicoms take Taiwan.
The death, rape and pillaging will be spun as a mostly peaceful and long overdue reunification of the Chinese people.
If the chicom lackeys throughout our .gov, .mil, academia and media can sell Milley's obvious treason as justified, and cover up a blatantly stolen election, is there any lie too big?
At this point, with so many powerful people compromised by the CCP, the only way I can see the world avoiding the approaching global tyranny is for China to be nuked into the stone age.
I hope that the Japanese and Taiwanese understand the enemy that they face and have prepared accordingly.
Our lying media will be all-in to spin it as a-ok when the chicoms take Taiwan.
The death, rape and pillaging will be spun as a mostly peaceful and long overdue reunification of the Chinese people.
If the chicom lackeys throughout our .gov, .mil, academia and media can sell Milley's obvious treason as justified, and cover up a blatantly stolen election, is there any lie too big?
At this point, with so many powerful people compromised by the CCP, the only way I can see the world avoiding the approaching global tyranny is for China to be nuked into the stone age.
I hope that the Japanese and Taiwanese understand the enemy that they face and have prepared accordingly.
northern watch
TB Fanatic
The US has spy satellites watching Taiwan, I am 100% certain that if a Chinese attack was imminent, the US would know about it, what the US would do is another question.
northern watch
TB Fanatic
There are other news sources other than MSM which will report.
Agreed. Just saying that if the US lets Taiwan be taken, our MSM will justify it.
From the posts you're bringing, I'd say we won't have to wait very much longer to see how this plays out.
I really appreciate you and Danielboon's news-hounding on this issue, because once the CCP goes overtly aggressive, the real fun starts.
From the posts you're bringing, I'd say we won't have to wait very much longer to see how this plays out.
I really appreciate you and Danielboon's news-hounding on this issue, because once the CCP goes overtly aggressive, the real fun starts.
John Deere Girl
Veteran Member
I appreciate all the news hounds that share here! This stuff doesn't make the news.
northern watch
TB Fanatic
okie-carbine
Veteran Member
start shooting those violators down and they might quit.
Vegas321
Live free and survive
Yeah, somthing will eventually happen like that.
And when it does, the next step will make the Hamas/Hezbollah artillery rocket barrages of Israel look like a "love tap"..
northern watch
TB Fanatic
marsh
On TB every waking moment
'By Whatever Means Possible': Chinese Communist Takeover of Taiwan Imminent, Asserts Regime Flack. » The National Pulse+
A top advisor to several Chinese Communist Party-affiliated think tanks as well as the New York-based Asia Society gave a “stern warning” to those opposing a Chinese Communist Party takeover of Taiwan. He suggested the regime will pursue the policy by “whatever means possible.” Speaking with LBC...
thenationalpulse.com
‘By Whatever Means Possible’: Chinese Communist Takeover of Taiwan Imminent, Asserts Regime Flack.
Victor Gao, a former Morgan Stanley Vice President, made the bold claim on a UK radio show.
top advisor to several Chinese Communist Party-affiliated think tanks as well as the New York-based Asia Society gave a “stern warning” to those opposing a Chinese Communist Party takeover of Taiwan. He suggested the regime will pursue the policy by “whatever means possible.”
Speaking with LBC presenter Matt Frei, Victor Gao declared: “nothing in the world can stand in the way of the unification of China,” adding the goal would be accomplished through “preferably peaceful means, but if not, peaceful means whatever means possible.”
“Unification of China is a must,” he adds.
‘This is a stern warning to whoever in Taiwan who will oppose the reunification,” insists Gao, who is the Vice President of the Chinese Communist Party-linked Center for China and Globalization and an advisor to several other Beijing-linked influence groups such as the Beijing Energy Club and the China Energy Security Institute.
Gao also has a presence in the U.S., serving as a member of the Asia Society’s Global Counsel and a former Vice President at Morgan Stanley Asia.
The National Pulse has previously exposed the Asia Society for influencing curricula and personnel in American schools to align with “social justice” and “globalism,” reaching up to 4,000,000 students and 100,000 educators.
When asked about America’s response to the Chinese Communist Party attempting to overtake Taiwan, Gao cautioned “Wake up, no American leaders who will want to shed blood of American soldiers for the unification of China.”
jward
passin' thru
Chinese military spotter plane enters Taiwan’s ADIZ
Taiwan sent aircraft, broadcast radio warnings, deployed missile systems to track PLAAF plane
648
By Eric Chang, Taiwan News, Staff Writer
2021/09/21 10:52
Chinese Y-8 ASW. (MND photo)
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A Chinese military plane flew into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Monday afternoon (Sept. 20), marking 18th intrusion this month.
A People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) Shaanxi Y-8 anti-submarine warfare plane entered the southwest corner of Taiwan’s ADIZ, according to the Ministry of National Defense (MND). In response, Taiwan sent aircraft, broadcast radio warnings, and deployed air defense missile systems to monitor it.
China has increased the frequency of its incursions into Taiwan’s ADIZ this month. Beijing has sent a mix of spotter planes, fighter jets, and bombers into the identification zone every day except for Sept. 2 and 18.
Since September of last year, Beijing has stepped up its gray zone tactics by routinely sending aircraft into Taiwan’s ADIZ, with most occurrences taking place in the southwest corner of the zone.
An ADIZ is an area that extends beyond a country’s airspace where air traffic controllers ask incoming aircraft to identify themselves. Gray zone tactics are defined “as an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempts to achieve one’s security objectives without resort to direct and sizable use of force.”
According to MND data, Chinese aircraft were tracked in Taiwan’s ADIZ 14 times in August, 14 times in July, 10 times in June, 18 times in May, 22 times in April, 18 times in March, 17 times in February, and 27 times in January. Last year, they were observed 19 times in December, 22 times in November, and 22 times in October.
Flight path of Chinese plane on Sept. 20. (MND image)
_______________________________________________________
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www.taiwannews.com.tw
Taiwan sent aircraft, broadcast radio warnings, deployed missile systems to track PLAAF plane
648
By Eric Chang, Taiwan News, Staff Writer
2021/09/21 10:52
Chinese Y-8 ASW. (MND photo)
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A Chinese military plane flew into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Monday afternoon (Sept. 20), marking 18th intrusion this month.
A People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) Shaanxi Y-8 anti-submarine warfare plane entered the southwest corner of Taiwan’s ADIZ, according to the Ministry of National Defense (MND). In response, Taiwan sent aircraft, broadcast radio warnings, and deployed air defense missile systems to monitor it.
China has increased the frequency of its incursions into Taiwan’s ADIZ this month. Beijing has sent a mix of spotter planes, fighter jets, and bombers into the identification zone every day except for Sept. 2 and 18.
Since September of last year, Beijing has stepped up its gray zone tactics by routinely sending aircraft into Taiwan’s ADIZ, with most occurrences taking place in the southwest corner of the zone.
An ADIZ is an area that extends beyond a country’s airspace where air traffic controllers ask incoming aircraft to identify themselves. Gray zone tactics are defined “as an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempts to achieve one’s security objectives without resort to direct and sizable use of force.”
According to MND data, Chinese aircraft were tracked in Taiwan’s ADIZ 14 times in August, 14 times in July, 10 times in June, 18 times in May, 22 times in April, 18 times in March, 17 times in February, and 27 times in January. Last year, they were observed 19 times in December, 22 times in November, and 22 times in October.
Flight path of Chinese plane on Sept. 20. (MND image)
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Two Chinese fighter jets enter Taiwan’s ADIZ
2021/09/15 11:37
Chinese electronic warfare turboprop enters Taiwan’s ADIZ
2021/09/14 08:52
Chinese military spotter plane enters Taiwan’s ADIZ | Taiwan News | 2021-09-21 10:52:00
Taiwan sent aircraft, broadcast radio warnings, deployed missile systems to track PLAAF plane | 2021-09-21 10:52:00
www.taiwannews.com.tw
jward
passin' thru
Thank you for that, JDG; it's nice to have occasional feedback of reader interest
to help guide where one's time, attention and effort are directed.
to help guide where one's time, attention and effort are directed.
jward I also appreciate the effort and updates. This is one of my first stops when I hit TB to check for updates. This is one of the most important areas we need to be watching
jward
passin' thru
French senators to visit Taiwan in October
Trip expected to take place from Oct. 4-11
Eric Chang, Taiwan News, Staff Writer
2021/09/21 13:28
Trip expected to take place from Oct. 4-11
Eric Chang, Taiwan News, Staff Writer
2021/09/21 13:28
Taiwanese and French flags. (Getty Images)
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A group of French senators is expected to visit Taiwan in early October, French outlet La Lettre A reported on Monday (Sept. 20).
The delegation will be led by Alain Richard, who chairs the French Senate’s Taiwan Friendship Group, in addition to the vice chairs of the group, André Vallini and Max Brinsson, as well as the group's secretary Olivier Cadic, according to the report. The trip is currently slated to take place from Oct. 4-11, La Lettre A said.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said it welcomed the French delegation's planned trip, according to CNA. Taiwan’s representative office in Paris is currently working with Richard on the details of the trip, MOFA said.
Richard told CNA in March that the purpose of the trip would be to see how Taiwan has handled the coronavirus and developed its economy, in addition to discussing the two countries’ regional and global strategies.
China in February voiced its opposition to the Taiwan trip in a letter sent to Richard by China’s ambassador to France, Lu Shaye (盧沙野). In response, the French foreign ministry replied in a statement that “French parliamentarians are free to make decisions about their own travel plans and contact.”
French senators to visit Taiwan in October | Taiwan News | 2021-09-21 13:28:00
Trip expected to take place from Oct. 4-11 | 2021-09-21 13:28:00
www.taiwannews.com.tw
northern watch
TB Fanatic
northern watch
TB Fanatic
I listened to Greg Hunter (USA Watchdog) interview John Rubino.
John Rubino is another one who thinks that China will invade Taiwan.
Without Trust Markets Will Tank – John Rubino | Greg Hunter’s USAWatchdog
John Rubino is another one who thinks that China will invade Taiwan.
Without Trust Markets Will Tank – John Rubino | Greg Hunter’s USAWatchdog
Illini Warrior
Illini Warrior
Japan ‘prepares for war’ in biggest drills for 30 YEARS as China tensions rage
CHINA has claimed Japan is “preparing for war” as it stages its first major military exercised for nearly 30 years. The defence drills stoked already rising tensions between the neighbo…
www.the-sun.com
Chinese military spotter plane enters Taiwan’s ADIZ
Taiwan sent aircraft, broadcast radio warnings, deployed missile systems to track PLAAF plane
648
By Eric Chang, Taiwan News, Staff Writer
2021/09/21 10:52
Chinese Y-8 ASW. (MND photo)
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A Chinese military plane flew into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Monday afternoon (Sept. 20), marking 18th intrusion this month.
A People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) Shaanxi Y-8 anti-submarine warfare plane entered the southwest corner of Taiwan’s ADIZ, according to the Ministry of National Defense (MND). In response, Taiwan sent aircraft, broadcast radio warnings, and deployed air defense missile systems to monitor it.
China has increased the frequency of its incursions into Taiwan’s ADIZ this month. Beijing has sent a mix of spotter planes, fighter jets, and bombers into the identification zone every day except for Sept. 2 and 18.
Since September of last year, Beijing has stepped up its gray zone tactics by routinely sending aircraft into Taiwan’s ADIZ, with most occurrences taking place in the southwest corner of the zone.
An ADIZ is an area that extends beyond a country’s airspace where air traffic controllers ask incoming aircraft to identify themselves. Gray zone tactics are defined “as an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempts to achieve one’s security objectives without resort to direct and sizable use of force.”
According to MND data, Chinese aircraft were tracked in Taiwan’s ADIZ 14 times in August, 14 times in July, 10 times in June, 18 times in May, 22 times in April, 18 times in March, 17 times in February, and 27 times in January. Last year, they were observed 19 times in December, 22 times in November, and 22 times in October.
Flight path of Chinese plane on Sept. 20. (MND image)
_______________________________________________________
SSDD:
RELATED ARTICLES
4 Chinese military planes intrude into Taiwan’s ADIZ
2021/09/20 10:47
3 Chinese military planes enter Taiwan’s ADIZ
2021/09/17 08:33
9 Chinese military aircraft enter Taiwan’s ADIZ
2021/09/16 09:43
Two Chinese fighter jets enter Taiwan’s ADIZ
2021/09/15 11:37
Chinese electronic warfare turboprop enters Taiwan’s ADIZ
2021/09/14 08:52
Chinese military spotter plane enters Taiwan’s ADIZ | Taiwan News | 2021-09-21 10:52:00
Taiwan sent aircraft, broadcast radio warnings, deployed missile systems to track PLAAF plane | 2021-09-21 10:52:00
That Y-8 may have started out as an ASW aircraft, but with the number of antennas it's sporting, it's doing ELINT work....
jward
passin' thru
Second line of defence: Taiwan’s civilians train to resist invasion
Helen Davidson
On a quiet workday morning last week, air raid sirens rang out across Taiwan. The eerie wailing horn would be the first warning to the island’s 23.5 million residents of an incoming attack by their neighbour across the Taiwan Strait, the People’s Republic of China.
On the streets of the capital, Taipei, people carried on with their day, just as they did when an earthquake drill on Friday told them to “stop, drop and hide” in mass text alerts, and just as they do when China sends dozens of air force planes screeching towards Taiwan.
The world is becoming increasingly familiar with Beijing’s claim over Taiwan as a breakaway province, and its pledge to one day “unify”, by force if necessary. Taiwan’s population has lived with the threat day in and day out, but as the danger grows, experts warn the public is not ready.
Analysts say China is closer to being capable of invading Taiwan than it has been in decades, but is not there yet. The potential nature and timing of any conflict is hotly debated, as is the involvement of other countries in support of Taiwan. But after decades of Chinese military modernisation, and significant uptick in aggressive or intimidatory acts in the last 18 months, there are growing concerns about Taiwan’s ability to defend itself.
“We have about 160,000 folks in uniform facing a military that now claims to be 2 million strong,” says Enoch Wu, a Taiwanese former banker and special forces soldier, and founder of Forward Alliance, which advocates for greater awareness of defence issues and national security.
“They have a signifiant role in the mission, but behind that we need a layered depth of responders who can really make sure that our defences are as strong as possible, so we can prevent military action.”
Wu, a rising figure in the governing Democratic Progressive party, has developed a pilot of resilience training for civilians. Run by Forward Alliance, and supported by first responder groups and the US’s unofficial presence in Taiwan, the American Institute, two workshops have so far hosted about 120 civilians.
Participants learn about situational awareness and personal safety, and hear from professional soldiers, first responders, and humanitarian workers about their experience on the battlefield or in crisis situations. After a basic first aid workshop – focused mostly on serious hemorrhagic injuries – it’s all put into practice in a mass casualty simulation.
Members of the public take part in resilience training in Taiwan. Photograph: Forward Alliance/American Institute in Taiwan
“There are [staged] injuries, aggressors, things are chaotic, you don’t know who is who, and it forces our teams to operate and deescalate the situation, keep people safe, and be helpful,” says Wu. “[They learn that] it’s the person next to you that’s going to matter most, and you are an actor and you have a choice and you can make a difference in these situations.”
Wu says the resilience workshops are not just about prepping for a military attack, listing Taiwan’s frequent earthquakes, industrial accidents, typhoons, and the recent deadly train crash in Hualien as far more likely reasons to need a crisis-trained society.
But it’s military conflict that people are most focused on. This month the US, Australia and the UK announced a new security partnership, Aukus, aimed at countering China, just days before Australian and US foreign ministers pledged to “strengthen ties” with their “critical partner”, Taiwan. The British prime minister, Boris Johnson, refused to rule out getting involved in a conflict over Taiwan.
Taiwan’s government, under the current president, Tsai Ing-wen, says it doesn’t seek conflict. It maintains that Taiwan is already a sovereign nation with no need to declare independence. But that position is irreconcilable with Beijing’s aims.
How to fend off a takeover
According to Admiral Lee Hsi-Ming, Taiwan’s former navy head and deputy defence minister, the first day of a hypothetical invasion attempt by China might involve cyber-attacks and long-range missiles hitting targets across the island including Taipei, paralysing Taiwan’s air force and navy, and destroying its control over the sea and air. It’s a dramatic scenario that Lee says Taiwan has little chance of preventing. But it’s only step one. “You can’t compete with a long-range missile attack, but if you want political control you must send ground troops.”
This is where Taiwan can fend off a complete takeover, says Lee, or – ideally – be so prepared for one that it serves as a deterrent. But were an invasion to happen, first responders would be overwhelmed, and Wu says a resilient population with key first aid and emergency skills could make the difference between life and death.
Tanks are deployed to carry out a shore defence operation as part of a military exercise in Taiwan. Photograph: Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi/Zuma/Rex/Shutterstock
“After our professional first responders we need a general population that is prepared at the basic level to be capable of helping themselves and each other and their communities and who won’t fall apart after first impact,” says Wu. “That’s critical in any emergency, especially in war.”
Wu has also called for massive improvements to Taiwan’s system of air raid shelters, which at the moment are primarily sites such as underground car parks with no added facilities or emergency supplies.
‘I wouldn’t know what to do’
Much of Taiwan’s population already has some basic training – military conscription ran for decades. But under plans to phase in fully voluntary armed forces, it has been reduced to a four months basic training course, which is often derided as a “summer camp”. Despite annual budget increases, the military at large has also been described as dysfunctional and “in crisis”. One 2018 graduate of the four-month course, surnamed Chen, tells the Guardian that despite the training, if war were to break out today, “I wouldn’t know what to do.”
Chen, who didn’t want to publish his full name, says rifle drills used outdated weapons, and he wasn’t taught any first aid. “Combat strategies and guerrilla warfare are what I’m interested in learning – if there was training in this, I would go learn it with my own money.”
Wu says, diplomatically, there are improvements to be made to the government’s training, but the resilience workshops are about “everybody else”.
First held in August 2020 and March 2021, the workshops were supposed to run monthly, until the pandemic got in the way. But Wu hopes that they will eventually roll out across Taiwan. “Without a resilient population, which has that will to persist and resist and fight on, folks on the frontline would be left out to dry.”
Second line of defence: Taiwan’s civilians train to resist invasion
Workshops teach public first aid and prepare them to assist armed forces in event of attack by China
www.theguardian.com
Second line of defence: Taiwan’s civilians train to resist invasion
Helen Davidson
On a quiet workday morning last week, air raid sirens rang out across Taiwan. The eerie wailing horn would be the first warning to the island’s 23.5 million residents of an incoming attack by their neighbour across the Taiwan Strait, the People’s Republic of China.
On the streets of the capital, Taipei, people carried on with their day, just as they did when an earthquake drill on Friday told them to “stop, drop and hide” in mass text alerts, and just as they do when China sends dozens of air force planes screeching towards Taiwan.
The world is becoming increasingly familiar with Beijing’s claim over Taiwan as a breakaway province, and its pledge to one day “unify”, by force if necessary. Taiwan’s population has lived with the threat day in and day out, but as the danger grows, experts warn the public is not ready.
Analysts say China is closer to being capable of invading Taiwan than it has been in decades, but is not there yet. The potential nature and timing of any conflict is hotly debated, as is the involvement of other countries in support of Taiwan. But after decades of Chinese military modernisation, and significant uptick in aggressive or intimidatory acts in the last 18 months, there are growing concerns about Taiwan’s ability to defend itself.
“We have about 160,000 folks in uniform facing a military that now claims to be 2 million strong,” says Enoch Wu, a Taiwanese former banker and special forces soldier, and founder of Forward Alliance, which advocates for greater awareness of defence issues and national security.
“They have a signifiant role in the mission, but behind that we need a layered depth of responders who can really make sure that our defences are as strong as possible, so we can prevent military action.”
Wu, a rising figure in the governing Democratic Progressive party, has developed a pilot of resilience training for civilians. Run by Forward Alliance, and supported by first responder groups and the US’s unofficial presence in Taiwan, the American Institute, two workshops have so far hosted about 120 civilians.
Participants learn about situational awareness and personal safety, and hear from professional soldiers, first responders, and humanitarian workers about their experience on the battlefield or in crisis situations. After a basic first aid workshop – focused mostly on serious hemorrhagic injuries – it’s all put into practice in a mass casualty simulation.
Members of the public take part in resilience training in Taiwan. Photograph: Forward Alliance/American Institute in Taiwan
“There are [staged] injuries, aggressors, things are chaotic, you don’t know who is who, and it forces our teams to operate and deescalate the situation, keep people safe, and be helpful,” says Wu. “[They learn that] it’s the person next to you that’s going to matter most, and you are an actor and you have a choice and you can make a difference in these situations.”
Wu says the resilience workshops are not just about prepping for a military attack, listing Taiwan’s frequent earthquakes, industrial accidents, typhoons, and the recent deadly train crash in Hualien as far more likely reasons to need a crisis-trained society.
But it’s military conflict that people are most focused on. This month the US, Australia and the UK announced a new security partnership, Aukus, aimed at countering China, just days before Australian and US foreign ministers pledged to “strengthen ties” with their “critical partner”, Taiwan. The British prime minister, Boris Johnson, refused to rule out getting involved in a conflict over Taiwan.
Taiwan’s government, under the current president, Tsai Ing-wen, says it doesn’t seek conflict. It maintains that Taiwan is already a sovereign nation with no need to declare independence. But that position is irreconcilable with Beijing’s aims.
How to fend off a takeover
According to Admiral Lee Hsi-Ming, Taiwan’s former navy head and deputy defence minister, the first day of a hypothetical invasion attempt by China might involve cyber-attacks and long-range missiles hitting targets across the island including Taipei, paralysing Taiwan’s air force and navy, and destroying its control over the sea and air. It’s a dramatic scenario that Lee says Taiwan has little chance of preventing. But it’s only step one. “You can’t compete with a long-range missile attack, but if you want political control you must send ground troops.”
This is where Taiwan can fend off a complete takeover, says Lee, or – ideally – be so prepared for one that it serves as a deterrent. But were an invasion to happen, first responders would be overwhelmed, and Wu says a resilient population with key first aid and emergency skills could make the difference between life and death.
Tanks are deployed to carry out a shore defence operation as part of a military exercise in Taiwan. Photograph: Daniel Ceng Shou-Yi/Zuma/Rex/Shutterstock
“After our professional first responders we need a general population that is prepared at the basic level to be capable of helping themselves and each other and their communities and who won’t fall apart after first impact,” says Wu. “That’s critical in any emergency, especially in war.”
Wu has also called for massive improvements to Taiwan’s system of air raid shelters, which at the moment are primarily sites such as underground car parks with no added facilities or emergency supplies.
‘I wouldn’t know what to do’
Much of Taiwan’s population already has some basic training – military conscription ran for decades. But under plans to phase in fully voluntary armed forces, it has been reduced to a four months basic training course, which is often derided as a “summer camp”. Despite annual budget increases, the military at large has also been described as dysfunctional and “in crisis”. One 2018 graduate of the four-month course, surnamed Chen, tells the Guardian that despite the training, if war were to break out today, “I wouldn’t know what to do.”
Chen, who didn’t want to publish his full name, says rifle drills used outdated weapons, and he wasn’t taught any first aid. “Combat strategies and guerrilla warfare are what I’m interested in learning – if there was training in this, I would go learn it with my own money.”
Wu says, diplomatically, there are improvements to be made to the government’s training, but the resilience workshops are about “everybody else”.
First held in August 2020 and March 2021, the workshops were supposed to run monthly, until the pandemic got in the way. But Wu hopes that they will eventually roll out across Taiwan. “Without a resilient population, which has that will to persist and resist and fight on, folks on the frontline would be left out to dry.”
Second line of defence: Taiwan’s civilians train to resist invasion
Workshops teach public first aid and prepare them to assist armed forces in event of attack by China
They'd have to go "poison pill"/MAD in one manner or another to make Xi and the CCP think twice. A combination of a full up Swiss system would do it but they don't have the time or the political history and stability for such an option. That leaves nukes and they may not have the time for them either the way things are bubbling.
northern watch
TB Fanatic
I agree, time is running out for Taiwan.