After Chinese Invasion Exercise, Taiwan Releases Detail Defensive Plan

Taiwan released a blow-by-blow strategy to “repel Chinese forces” in its latest National Defense Report, a few days after China conducted joint land assault exercises off its eastern coast, close to the island nation.

The report, released Wednesday, is the first to be made public after President Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016. To ward off outside invasion, Taiwan’s strategy has shifted in recent years from protecting only sensitive zones to include outer perimeter along its coasts, Taiwanese media have reported.

China’s exercise involved amphibious assault ships, minesweepers and warships storming the shoreline of the enemy. As the army closed in on the coast, warplanes, artilleries and tanks launched simulated joint strikes from multiple points and seized the position. While the defending team attempted counterattacks, the army called in air strikes from a communications command platform, guiding fighter aircraft and long-range rockets that eliminated the defender's threat.

The Taiwan document contains a one-page graphic showing exactly how its armed forces would repel an invasion along its coastline. The enemy brigand would be pitted against its large military vessels as first line of defense along external perimeters of Taipei’s coasts. Naval mines and small vessels will form the second line of defense. Meanwhile, armored vehicles and other weapons systems are positioned to eliminate enemy forces on beach areas. Military aircraft and missiles are used as further deterrence, as shown in the graphic, which is part of the military's "multiple deterrence" strategy adopted in 2017.