In the report, the Taiwanese defence ministry claims that China has launched “multi-front saturated grey-zone” tactics to harass Taiwan, including increased patrols of ships and planes
China has ramped up its grey-zone warfare against Taiwan to further its efforts to “saturate” the independently governed island nations with balloons, drones and civilian boats, a Taiwan military report has said. Interestingly, the report came out at a time when Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned supporters of Taiwan’s cause of “getting burned for playing with fire.”
By stepping up grey-zone warfare, China aims to exhaust Taiwan without engaging in open combat.
During a press conference at the Two Sessions, Wang said Wang said the one-China principle is the general consensus of the international community, and condoning support for “Taiwan independence” is a challenge to Beijing’s sovereignty.
What does that Taiwanese report say?
In the report, accessed by Reuters, the Taiwanese defence ministry claims that China has launched “multi-front saturated grey-zone” tactics to harass Taiwan, including increased patrols of ships and planes.
China has attempted to “increase burdens of our naval and air forces and to obscure the existence of the median line in the strait”, the report said, referring to an unofficial border between the two sides, which China’s forces have begun regularly crossing in recent years.
It added China has also incorporated research and militia vessels in a move to “disguise military activities with civilians”.
What does Taiwan plan on doing?
In the event of increased military activity, Taiwan’s defence ministry says the country will “preserve” its troops by boosting the resilience of its infrastructure and running drills to ensure Taiwan forces survive in a prolonged conflict in case war breaks out.
Taiwan is also taking notes from the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas war to better prepare itself as a belligerent China threatens its sovereignty.
The ministry said it is stockpiling weapons and fuel to endure a prolonged war with China.
Taiwan anticipates that in a war-like situation, China will try its best to resist external forces from helping the island nation. Therefore, the island is working to diversify its command systems and incorporate more mobile and long-range weapons, as well as artificial intelligence, while boosting “connections” with democratic allies, including the United States.
With inputs from Reuters
