By Matt Underwood Taiwan says its military can respond rapidly to any sudden Chinese attack. This statement isn’t just about boasting; it’s a calculated move in a complex game of international relations. The island nation, situated a mere eighty miles from the Chinese mainland, understands the stakes. Should China decide to make a move, Taiwan knows it must be prepared to defend itself.
The foundation for this preparedness is a deep-seated understanding of the geopolitical landscape. From China’s perspective, Taiwan represents a historical claim, a century of perceived humiliation needing rectification. It’s about national identity, the fight against separatism, and regional power dynamics. Control over Taiwan would solidify access to the Pacific Ocean, a strategic advantage. Conversely, Taiwan views itself as an independent entity, a democratic bastion existing in the shadow of an authoritarian regime. The island’s leadership is well aware that its continued existence is an existential threat to the CCP, which is seeking to expand its influence.
The military response, therefore, needs to be swift and decisive. Taiwan’s goal isn’t necessarily to “win” in the conventional sense. The island would aim to make the invasion as costly as possible, to inflict enough damage to dissuade any future incursions. This is a game of deterrence, where the price of aggression must far outweigh any perceived benefits. Taiwan’s armed forces must be ready to protect their own territory, and their focus should be to disrupt any potential invasion forces and to ensure that China would have nothing to gain by invading.
The challenges are considerable. Any Chinese amphibious assault would be met with an incredibly difficult task; the Taiwan Strait is notoriously challenging, and even supplying a force for an extended period would be almost impossible. In addition, the terrain of Taiwan is characterized by mountains, rivers, and dense cities, all of which would present challenges to any invading force. Moreover, Taiwan is an important node in a first island chain blocked by the United States in China. It would be impossible for China to give up Taiwan from a national defense and security perspective.
The United States plays a significant role in this equation. While the U.S. doesn’t officially recognize Taiwan as an independent state, they have a formal diplomatic relationship with the island. The U.S. has also publicly stated their willingness to come to Taiwan’s defense if it is attacked. The support of the United States can be seen as an important factor in Taiwan’s stance, because if the U.S. decided to intervene, it would be a game changer for China, and there is a high likelihood of a full-blown war, and that would be a high risk for the entire world.
Taiwan is in a difficult position. It knows that the U.S. might be unreliable and that Europe is preoccupied with other issues, and that neither Japan, South Korea, nor Australia would have the firepower to help on their own. Taiwan also knows that a global economic embargo on China is unlikely, given the degree of international polarization. But China would be very unlikely to risk its economy by invading Taiwan, since China’s economy depends on foreign trade.
However, Taiwan is preparing itself for all possibilities. The island knows that China could take military action at any time, but Taiwan’s military feels that it is able to respond rapidly to such an attack, which is an important step in defending their freedom. The statement demonstrates a strong resolve to defend its borders and sends a clear message to Beijing.