The recent news of US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan has sparked heated discussions from all walks of life. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army threatened to take strong measures if Pelosi came to Taiwan. In this regard, the American “Fox News” (Fox News) reporter Eryk Michael Smith wrote an analysis, saying that for the Chinese military commander, Taiwan is difficult to be easily captured.
According to a report by Fox News on the 1st local time, Eryk Michael Smith pointed out that Taiwan is about 100 miles away from China and is close to the state of Maryland in the United States. Not only is Taiwan surrounded by a protective “moat”, but its geographical features include mountains, making it difficult for enemies to invade.
After Taiwan became a Japanese colony, the United States called off its then-invasion of Taiwan in 1994 because the cost was too high, observers say. The US military planning team believes that at least 500,000 troops are needed to attack and control Taiwan, and the authorities also estimate that the casualties of the US military fighting in the mountains, jungles and cities will be as high as 150,000.
Eryk Michael Smith mentioned that since the 1950s, Taiwan has been constantly preparing for external invasion, so it has a solid intelligence agency, troops dedicated to repelling the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, a large and powerful modern military force, and a variety of defense facilities. Due to the mountainous terrain of Taiwan, the PLA may face “a pouring down of smashing firepower” under the heavily defensive positions after taking the stage.
Many experts believe that China will not simply use force to coerce Taiwan, and while the fact that China may attack Taiwanese military targets with cruise missiles is worrying, Beijing is believed to be very willing to maintain Taiwan’s infrastructure, especially related to semiconductors. Taiwan dominates the global semiconductor manufacturing industry, controlling 48% of the foundry market and 61% of the world’s high-precision 16nm smart device chip manufacturing, according to an analysis by market intelligence firm TrendForce.
Although force has been effective as a tactic of intimidation, the Chinese leadership has realized that this move has turned generations of Taiwanese into “mortal enemies” and even less willing to “return to the motherland.” And Taiwan also has missiles, which may cause more damage to China.
Kitsch Liao, a military and cyber affairs consultant at Doublethink Lab, a corporate legal person, said in an interview that in addition to terrain and the defense of the Taiwan Strait, logistical support is often overlooked. “Usually, any military unit carries No more than three days of supplies, which means they have to get supplies or scavenge the battlefield for whatever they can get their hands on.”
Liao Yanfen further explained that the ammunition is very bulky and quickly used up, and the PLA has difficulty using ammunition seized from Taiwan unless it is temporary, which means they have to carry a lot of equipment. “Successful landing will be a costly victory for China,” Liao Yanfen said. “The amphibious landing ship is far from complete and may need to travel back and forth across the Taiwan Strait (becoming an extremely vulnerable and lucrative target) in order to provide land forces supply”
Many observers see invasion as China’s last option, with Ian Easton, a research fellow at the US think tank Project 2049 Institute and an expert on Taiwan, said: “Xi Jinping may have a God complex that makes him feel terrible about the horrors of an invasion of Taiwan. Risks turn a blind eye. Rational strategic leaders would choose an alternative course of action, such as long-term coercive action to isolate and block Taiwan.”
And when asked about Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, Easton said the United States should not be intimidated by Beijing’s threats, “It is vital that the U.S. leader visits Taipei and shows that the United States is in solidarity with democracies at risk. of”
U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s recent visit to Taiwan has sparked heated discussions from all walks of life
The PLA threatened to take strong measures if Pelosi came to Taiwan.
Eryk Michael Smith wrote an analysis, saying that for the Chinese military commander, Taiwan is difficult to be easily captured.
In response to the US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, the Eastern Theater of the People’s Liberation Army released a video of waiting and fighting. The picture shows the assembly of the landing troops of the People’s Liberation Army.Figure: Flip from Tencent Video
In response to the US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, the Eastern Theater of the People’s Liberation Army released a video of waiting and fighting. The picture shows the paratroopers of the People’s Liberation Army parachuting training.Figure: Flip from Tencent Video
According to Eryk Michael Smith, a reporter from Fox News in the United States, Taiwan has a geographical advantage and the PLA cannot easily attack Taiwan. The picture shows the PLA warships conducting live-fire drills in the waters surrounding Taiwan. Figure: Taken from the Eastern Theater of the People’s Liberation Army (file photo)
U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi is rumored to be visiting Taiwan. Figure: Recap Pelosi’s Twitter (file photo)