{"id":1606270,"date":"2022-08-15T08:16:07","date_gmt":"2022-08-15T12:16:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1606270"},"modified":"2022-08-15T08:16:23","modified_gmt":"2022-08-15T12:16:23","slug":"in-its-rage-china-just-offered-a-sneak-peak-of-its-plans-for-striking-taiwan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/in-its-rage-china-just-offered-a-sneak-peak-of-its-plans-for-striking-taiwan\/","title":{"rendered":"In Its Rage, China Just Offered A Sneak Peak Of Its Plans For Striking Taiwan"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fin-its-rage-china-just-offered-a-sneak-peak-of-its-plans-for-striking-taiwan%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1606270&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Last week, the Chinese People\u2019s Liberation Army (PLA)\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/china-ends-taiwan-drills-11660133116\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">declared<\/a> an end\u00a0to its live-fire military exercises. An enraged Beijing kicked off the drills in response to U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi\u2019s visit to Taiwan during her recent trip to Asia. The exercises presented a rare window for the outside world to examine the PLA\u2019s strength, offered clues to how Beijing plans to take over Taiwan militarily, and served as a reminder that Beijing has consistently matched its rhetoric with actions.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><strong>China\u2019s Fighting Power Has Dramatically Improved<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>All branches of the PLA, from the army, navy, and air force, to logistical units, participated in the week-long drills. They encircled Taiwan, which effectively imposed a blockade on the island. The PLA showed off its fighting power by deploying fighter jets and bombers in the sky and destroyers, submarines, and aircraft carriers in the ocean.<\/p>\n<p>The PLA also launched ballistic missiles over Taiwan, five of which, according to the Japanese Ministry of Defense,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/news.yahoo.com\/chinese-ballistic-missiles-land-inside-155929218.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">landed<\/a> in Japanese-controlled water for the first time. Taiwan\u2019s military also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/china-extends-military-exercises-as-taiwan-battles-cyberattacks-11659969484\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">accused<\/a> Beijing of sustained cyberattacks on Taiwan\u2019s internet service.<\/p>\n<p>Many defense experts were shocked at how much progress the Chinese military had made since the last Taiwan strait crisis in 1995-1996 when China staged military exercises after then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich visited Taiwan.<\/p>\n<p>According to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.economist.com\/by-invitation\/2022\/08\/10\/chinas-huge-exercises-around-taiwan-were-a-rehearsal-not-a-signal-says-oriana-skylar-mastro\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Oriana Skylar Mastro<\/a>, a China expert at Stanford University, China\u2019s military exercises in the \u201990s felt like child\u2019s play because the PLA \u201cbarely had what could be considered an air force and a navy. Its pilots could not fly over water, at night, or in rough weather. In 1999 less than 2 percent of its fighters were the fourth generation, just 4 percent of its attack submarines were classed as modern (nuclear powered, for example), and none of its surface ships was.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The PLA\u2019s recent drills demonstrate that China\u2019s investment in modernizing its military during the last two decades has paid off. The PLA has transformed from a backwater fighting force into a modern and cohesive one. Has the PLA advanced enough to be comparable to America\u2019s in quality and quantity? While Mastro\u00a0seems to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.economist.com\/by-invitation\/2022\/08\/10\/chinas-huge-exercises-around-taiwan-were-a-rehearsal-not-a-signal-says-oriana-skylar-mastro\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">think<\/a> so, many other China watchers disagree.<\/p>\n<p>The most recent\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalfirepower.com\/countries-comparison-detail.php?country1=china&#038;country2=united-states-of-america\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">side-by-side<\/a> comparison\u00a0of the relative fighting strengths of China and the United States shows that the U.S. military still leads in many areas, including having more fighter jets and aircraft carriers than the PLA does. Additionally, the PLA hasn\u2019t been battle-tested for more than four decades. The last time it attempted to invade somewhere was in 1979, and the target was Vietnam. The PLA suffered a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/nationalinterest.org\/blog\/buzz\/forgotten-war-how-china-was-crushed-vietnam-1979-conflict-83341\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">humiliating defeat<\/a>\u00a0despite being better equipped and having numeric advantages over the Vietnam army.<\/p>\n<p>Based on these recent drills, a realistic assessment of the PLA is that it has made significant progress and has narrowed the gap between itself and the U.S. military in many areas. Engaging the PLA in a war will be a very challenging endeavor. The U.S. military cannot afford to be complacent, and continuing to invest in our military\u2019s fighting power should be a priority for any U.S. administration.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>China Is Testing a New Strategy<\/h2>\n<p>China\u2019s military drills have demonstrated its resolve and ability to invade Taiwan, but these exercises also suggest that Beijing is testing new strategies on Taiwan. Rather than an outright invasion, Beijing may first impose a blockade on Taiwan to starve the island\u2019s economy while cutting off the island\u2019s contact with the outside world and preventing economic and military aid from arriving from Taiwan\u2019s allies.<\/p>\n<p>Such a blockade will devastate the world economy because Taiwan sits in the South China Sea, where more than a third of international trade volume passes annually. The Chinese military\u2019s persistent presence will\u00a0disrupt\u00a0commercial activities in the region, and ripple effects will be felt worldwide.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, the PLA may implement the large-scale coordinated drills we just witnessed in the Taiwan Strait. According to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.economist.com\/by-invitation\/2022\/08\/10\/chinas-huge-exercises-around-taiwan-were-a-rehearsal-not-a-signal-says-oriana-skylar-mastro\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mastro<\/a>, \u201cnot only does this heighten anxiety in Taipei (and probably other regional capitals as well), but it helps to disguise any preparations for a real military campaign\u201d because \u201cChina needs an element of surprise to be able to take Taiwan before America has time to mobilize adequate forces in the region to defend the island.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The challenge facing Taiwan and the U.S. is how to distinguish China\u2019s routine exercise from a surprise attack because remaining vigilant all the time is mentally and physically exhausting and financially costly.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Actions \u2014 And Inactions \u2014 Speak Louder Than Words<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Before Pelosi visited Taiwan, the Chinese government issued many\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ibtimes.com\/call-biden-chinas-xi-warns-against-playing-fire-over-taiwan-3590024\">\u201cfire and fury\u201d<\/a> warnings. Although the Chinese military didn\u2019t shoot down Pelosi\u2019s plane as some Chinese nationalists suggested, it certainly matched its words with actions.<\/p>\n<p>Besides conducting week-long live-fire military drills, Beijing\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2022\/08\/05\/china-sanctions-us-house-speaker-nancy-pelosi-over-trip-to-taiwan.html\">imposed sanctions<\/a> on Pelosi and her immediate family\u00a0and canceled dialogues with the U.S. on climate change and military cooperation.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>But it was Taiwan that took most of China\u2019s fury. Right after Pelosi left Taiwan, China <a href=\"http:\/\/reuters.com\/world\/asia-pacific\/economic-sanctions-china-has-imposed-taiwan-over-pelosi-visit-2022-08-03\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">suspended<\/a> imports of many Taiwanese agricultural products while halting exports of natural sand \u2014 used in construction and concrete \u2014 to Taiwan.<\/p>\n<p>The Chinese government also\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/news\/china\/taiwan-pelolsi-08032022132212.html\">arrested<\/a> Yang Chih-yuen, accusing him of \u201cengaging in separatist activities and supporting formal independence\u201d for Taiwan, and banned\u00a0two non-profit organizations in Taiwan, Taiwan Foundation for Democracy and Taiwan Foreign Ministry\u2019s International Cooperation and Development Fund, from \u201ccooperating with any organizations, companies, and individuals in the mainland.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While Beijing\u2019s actions match its fiery warnings, the Biden administration and congressional Democrats seem to believe that rhetoric is a sufficient substitute for action.<\/p>\n<p>Suppose Pelosi truly believes that the U.S. and Taiwan\u2019s relationship is \u201cironclad.\u201d According to Wall Street Journal columnist\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/a-costly-passivity-toward-china-nancy-pelosi-taiwan-visit-military-buildup-diplomacy-pacific-japan-south-korea-investment-trade-security-11659991742?mod=opinion_major_pos8\">Walter Russell Mead<\/a>, Pelosi \u201cshould have beat the drum for the past 15 years for greater military preparedness even if this meant larger defense appropriations. She should have gone ballistic over President Obama\u2019s passivity as China created new military bases in the South China Sea.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Instead, Pelosi \u201cslept at the helm\u201d as China modernized its military. Furthermore, Congressional Democrats demanded to cut the U.S. defense budget to fund domestic pet projects like the Green New Deal.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The Biden administration is also responsible for the growing threat of China. Defense expert Elbridge Colby <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ElbridgeColby\/status\/1557450905913643009\">tweeted<\/a> that despite saying many correct things about Taiwan, the Biden administration \u201cis not increasing defense spending at anything like the level needed to address this threat, especially without sharply focusing on Asia. In fact, the Administration\u2019s proposed defense budget *cut* military spending in real terms this year.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As China conducted live-fire drills near Taiwan, the Biden administration\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.heritage.org\/defense\/commentary\/biden-administration-cancels-routine-missile-test-appease-adversary-again\">announced<\/a>\u00a0it would delay a routine U.S. missile test to avoid escalating tensions with China after Pelosi\u2019s visit.<\/p>\n<p>Why was the Biden administration concerned about placating Beijing when Beijing was the one who antagonized the escalation? Why didn\u2019t the Biden administration respond to China\u2019s sanctions on Pelosi and her family by imposing sanctions on PLA generals and their families?\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, the Biden administration\u2019s inaction has failed to de-escalate the tension in Taiwan Strait. And because of this, last week, Beijing was emboldened to declare that it would <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/china-extends-military-exercises-as-taiwan-battles-cyberattacks-11659969484\">extend military drills<\/a> \u201cindefinitely\u201d before it decided to wind them down shortly after that.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Inaction is the last thing that will deter the PLA from invading Taiwan. If China perceives a consistent gap between the U.S. government\u2019s actions and rhetoric on Taiwan, its military may grow more aggressive. Regardless of the outcome, a Chinese invasion of Taiwan will incur an enormous cost for all parties involved.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n<div class=\"article-author-description fst-italic\">\n  Helen Raleigh, CFA, is an American entrepreneur, writer, and speaker. She&#8217;s a senior contributor at The Federalist. Her writings appear in other national media, including The Wall Street Journal and Fox News.  Helen is the author of several books, including &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Confucius-Never-Said-Helen-Raleigh\/dp\/1499185278\/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&#038;keywords=Helen+Raleigh+Confucius+Never+Said&#038;qid=1606079469&#038;sr=8-1\">Confucius Never Said<\/a>&#8221; and \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Backlash-How-Chinas-Aggression-Backfired\/dp\/1736008501\/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&#038;qid=1606006113&#038;sr=8-1\">Backlash: How Communist China&#8217;s Aggression Has Backfired<\/a>.&#8221; Follow her on Parler and Twitter: @HRaleighspeaks.<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-comments mt-30 mt-sm-60\">\n<div class=\"article-comments-container d-flex flex-column align-items-center py-30\">\n    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"110\" height=\"106\" src=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/fdrlst-mark.svg\" class=\"img-fluid mb-20\" alt=\"The Federalist logo eagle mark\" \/>    <\/p>\n<p>Unlock commenting by joining the Federalist Community.<\/p>\n<p>    <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/plans\/pricing\/\" class=\"btn btn-on-white\">Subscribe<\/a>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last week, the Chinese People\u2019s Liberation Army (PLA)\u00a0declared an end\u00a0to its live-fire military exercises. An enraged Beijing kicked off the drills in response to U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi\u2019s visit<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":536,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1606270","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1606270","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/536"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1606270"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1606270\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1606270"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1606270"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1606270"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}