TAIWAN FOCUSES ON CAPABILITY TO STRIKE DEEP INTO CHINA

Undeterred by US policy and defense wonks who warn Taiwan could be invaded by China between 2025 and 2034, Taipei is poised to develop far-strike capabilities against Beijing, Matt Yu and Joseph Yeh reported for the Central News Agency (CNA).

A military defense strategy report recently sent to lawmakers for review has made clear that building Taiwan's far-strike capabilities is the top priority of the armed forces. The Ministry of National Defense (MND) Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) says that doing so will effectively extend the nation's defense-in-depth to delay the advance of a potential Chinese invasion.

To boost its far-strike capabilities, the armed forces should continue their ongoing efforts to build more long-distance air-launched missiles, remote-controlled precision weapon systems, says the QDR sent to the Legislative Yuan on Thursday, March 18, 2021, for review.

Meanwhile, the QDR says Taiwan will continue to adopt a "resolute defense and multi-domain deterrence" tactic focused on defending its forces and annihilating the enemy near the coastline before they make landfall on the island.

Facing Beijing's growing military strength, Taiwan's asymmetric systems must be small, mobile, stealthy, and numerous for strategic dispersion, taking advantage of the deployment of anti-ship missiles in coastal areas, rapid reaction forces and mine-laying at sea, it said.

Taiwan currently has a number of imported and indigenous weapon systems capable of such far-strike capabilities, including the US-made medium-range precision-guided AGM-154C JSOW, Harpoon missiles stationed in coastal areas, as well as locally developed Wan Chien air-to-ground cruise missiles.

The QRD was compiled per the National Defense Act, which states that the defense ministry is required to submit the report to the Legislative Yuan within 10 months of each presidential inauguration.

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