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Home The News News China’s military ‘aimed at preventing US intervention’

China’s military ‘aimed at preventing US intervention’

The growth of China’s military capabilities is specifically oriented toward countering the US’ ability to assist in the defense of Taiwan, a new Heritage Foundation report says.

“China’s ability to execute a military action against Taiwan, albeit at high economic and political cost, is improving,” the 2016 Index of US Military Strength said, which was published on Wednesday.

According to the annual Index, two of the US’ four military branches have declined over the past year and the others were rated only “marginal” in their ability to protect US interests.

It said that growing US weakness, coupled with increasing strength and aggressiveness from North Korea, Russia and China “make for a growing and dangerous instability in regions throughout the world.”

“Threats against American interests are stronger and more numerous that a year ago,” senior Index editor Dakota Wood said.

“Key regions are more unstable and our military capabilities have weakened further. These are very disturbing trends,” Wood said.

The Index says that China’s long-standing threat to end de facto independence in Taiwan — if necessary by force — is both a threat to a major US security partner and a threat to peace and stability in the western Pacific.

China continues to employ political warfare against the Taiwan’s political and military leadership, the Index said.

“For the Chinese leadership, the failure to effect unification, whether peacefully or through the use of force, would reflect fundamental political weakness,” the Index said.

“There is no realistic means by which any Chinese leadership can back away from the stance of having to unify the island with the mainland,” it said.

As a result, Taiwan remains an essential part of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) new historic mission, shaping acquisitions and military planning.

The Index said that Beijing’s anti-access area-denial strategy is aimed largely at forestalling US intervention in support of Taiwan.

By holding at risk key US platforms — particularly aircraft carriers — Beijing seeks to delay or even deter US intervention in support of Taiwan allowing China to achieve a fait accompli.

The Index said the Chinese threat to Taiwan is “never off the table.”


Source: Taipei Times - 2015/10/30



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Newsflash


Members of the Alliance of Referendum for Taiwan return to Taipei yesterday after walking around the island in protest at what they call the “autocratic control of the judiciary.” They also called for the release of jailed former president Chen Shui-bian.
Photo: CNA

Members of a pro-independence group yesterday completed a 36-day walk around the country as they called on the authorities to end what they termed “autocratic control of the judiciary” and for the release of jailed former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).

The walk, initiated by the Alliance of Referendum for Taiwan, arrived at Banciao Railway Station in New Taipei City (新北市) yesterday morning. They braved the cold and rain, and at noon reached Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office in Taipei, where an overnight protest was scheduled.