Taiwan’s military drills inspired by Ukrainian fighters
Taiwan has been monitoring how Ukraine’s forces have been able to hold off a larger, better-equipped foe since Russia’s invasion.
The war in Ukraine will inform Taiwan’s annual war drills, which are designed to prepare the island against attacks from China.
The Han Kuang exercises next month will simulate the defence of the island based on Beijing’s recent military harassment and its own naval warfare drills.
A senior military officer said that Taiwan’s tactics would also refer to how Ukraine’s forces have been able to hold off a larger, better-equipped foe since Russia’s invasion.
“The defence ministry is closely monitoring, researching and analysing, regarding the war between Russia and Ukraine as well as the [Chinese] Communist military’s movements,” Major General Lin Wen-huang said.
“Taking into account the lessons of the Russia-Ukraine war, the military will continue to forge ahead on improving the use of asymmetric warfare, cognitive warfare, information and electronic warfare operations, and use of reserves and full strength of the nation.”
Fears have grown in the wake of the war in Ukraine that Beijing could mount military attacks on Taiwan to achieve unification with the self-governed island.
Beijing has long considered the island, home to more than 23 million people, part of Chinese territory. President Xi has vowed that China will take control before 2050. He has said that Beijing will try to do this peacefully, while also ratcheting up military pressure by routinely sending warplanes and warships near the island.
Asymmetric warfare refers to conflict between unmatched opponents who typically use different tactics. The conflict in Ukraine has been cited as an example, as the defenders have largely been able to frustrate Russia’s initial assault on Kyiv despite being outnumbered in terms of personnel and firepower.
Inspired by Ukraine’s resistance to the Russian invasion, Taiwan has gained confidence that it might also repel Chinese invaders through similar tactics.
Washington, which has a security pact with Taiwan to supply it with sufficient hardware and technology to deter any Chinese invasion, has said it would support Taiwan to build such defence capabilities.
Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, this week told a congressional committee that the Biden administration was “determined to make sure that [Taiwan] has all necessary means to defend itself against any potential aggression, including unilateral action by China”, according to the South China Morning Post.
“We’re focused on helping them think about how to strengthen asymmetric capabilities … as a deterrent,” Blinken said.
In a show of support, the US military sailed the USS Sampson, a guided-missile destroyer, through the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday, drawing stern condemnation from Beijing.
The eastern theatre command of the Chinese army accused Washington of acting provocatively and sending “wrong signals” to Taiwan’s “secessionists”.
“It intentionally destroys peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” a statement read. “We firmly oppose it.”
The first phase of the annual drills is scheduled for May 16 to 20, when the island’s military will review combat plans. The second phase, scheduled for July 25 to 29, will involve real-fire exercises.
The Times
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