TAIPEI: Taiwan's Defense Minister, Wellington Koo, has issued an urgent warning stating that the Taiwanese military must immediately test its rapid-response capabilities in the event of an outbreak of war, as the early warning window before a potential Chinese attack is becoming increasingly narrow.
Taiwan Urgently Boosts Military Readiness Speed Amid Fears of China Surprise Attack
According to a report by Reuters, the announcement on June 24 came as Taiwan prepares to hold a full five-day military exercise aimed at strengthening its "immediate combat readiness." During the drills, Taiwanese forces began training under a scenario where China could suddenly convert its routine military exercises around Taiwan into an actual assault.
Taiwan's military forces (tanks and soldiers) conducting a high-speed coastal defense
Mr. Koo told reporters at Taiwan's parliament that the primary focus of this exercise is speed—specifically, transitioning from a "peacetime" to a "wartime" footing as quickly as possible to counter current threats.
Response from Beijing: In immediate response from Beijing, Zhang Han, a spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, came forward to criticize Taiwan's military drills, claiming they demonstrate a "malicious intent to seek independence through force." She issued a stern warning that in the face of China's powerful military, the posturing by Taiwanese authorities is useless and will only bring destruction to the island. She added that while China still desires peaceful reunification, it will absolutely not rule out the option of using military force.
Currently, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te is actively leading a military modernization campaign, aiming to boost the defense budget to 5% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) before 2030. He has urged top military commanders to adopt innovative mindsets in transforming the armed forces, noting that the regional situation is changing rapidly and current challenges are highly complex, no longer resembling traditional warfare.
Taiwan's plan to increase its military budget has received full backing from the United States, its primary backer and arms supplier. Raymond Greene, a senior U.S. diplomat in Taipei, stated on June 23 that the U.S. and its regional allies share a common vision: they must work together to defend and deter any attempts to take Taiwan by force, in order to maintain the status quo across the First Island Chain.
-1.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
-1.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
