Posted on 01/21/2023 10:41:06 PM PST by RomanSoldier19
Rising concerns over increasingly aggressive military maneuvers by China have prompted Taiwan to extend the mandatory military service period most of its young men must serve. But former conscripts interviewed by CNN say Taipei will need to do far more than that if it is to make the training effective.
Outdated, boring and impractical. That was the verdict of six young men who spoke to CNN about their recent experiences of mandatory service in Taiwan’s military.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
When Tiger's Broke Free
I have a business friend in Taiwan. His son completed his military service last year. 4 months, weekends at home, and never fired a rifle once.
I guess they expect American sons to defend them.
The CCP are like the Russians. They can't just walk over to Taiwan and conquer the country.
Its worse for the Chinese. They have a very tough tactical problem in actually landing on Taiwan. There are few viable beaches, and these are covered by a huge mass of artillery and armor, besides extensive fortifications.
I dont see how they are going to get boats to the beaches under intense fire, unload, and get off the beach. They are not well equipped to suppress these defenses. Given the available forces and technologies it seems like its going to be Omaha beach x 50.
If it comes down to it, I figure the Chinese are just going to blockade Taiwan and hope for the best.
One would think that China would just extort Taiwan’s leadership, like they are apparently doing to the US.
“I dont see how they are going to get boats to the beaches under intense fire, unload, and get off the beach”
China’s million-man army only needs a few hundred thousand Jet-Skis to land all at once.
Jet skis are no good against interlocking machine-gun fields of fire. Lots of targets trying to cross beaten zones. And then there are artillery airbursts. 100,000 jetskis off a few beaches is going to be a dense, exposed target. And if they get to land, they are just the same unprotected infantry at Omaha Beach.
China could open by demanding that Taiwan accede to reunification on seemingly generous terms, and when that is refused, they could begin an embargo supported by a blockade and make a small, demonstrative ballistic missile barrage that disables or destroys essential civilian infrastructure. China could further insist that America stay out of a dispute among Chinese or risk a global nuclear war.
That will end normal life in Taiwan and make clear that China will set the terms of Taiwan's future, with little that America can do about it to relieve Taiwan other than supplying weapons, sponsoring blockade running, and engaging in regional naval and air patrols as an admonition to China. Yet that will not restore normality and prosperity to Taiwan.
Taiwan will have a furious internal debate that polarizes the entire country. With living standards and opportunities declining due to the costs of repair, rearmament, and commercial uncertainty, many or most of those with mobile wealth and skills or access to foreign refuges will leave, while those remaining will increasingly tend to favor reunification with mainland China.
Of course, in blockading and attacking Taiwan, China will suffer substantial economic and political costs across the globe. China's leaders may see that as endurable because of currency reserves, a wave of internal political support, and a network of supportive allies. If America does not go to war or impose crippling sanctions, China may reasonably hope to prevail through negotiations within a few years.
Taiwan's chances of staying independent will require a military buildup, an effective antimissile defense, and resolute US and regional economic, political, and military support against China. Will the US and its allies have the willingness and means to do that on a sustained basis? Ukraine is the test, which is why US and NATO support for Ukraine is about far more than Ukraine and Russia.
The Red Chinese million-man army could also spare 100,000 paratroopers. (The equivalent of a D-Day invasion).
This, against Taiwan conscripts who’ve never fired a gun in four months of “training”—with weekends off!
Plus, an existing Taiwan population who’d cheer for the invaders.
I don’t see a difference between PLA and Russian invasion plans, except that the PLA is learning HOW NOT to invade.
Ex-conscripts complaining about "life in the military."
Knock me over with a feather!
Regards,
China does not have the transports for 100,000 paratroopers, and transport aircraft are terribly vulnerable.
Taiwan will have very dense air defenses, and its got lots of flak and manpads. Thats about as bad as beach landings.
Something like that is probably the plan.
While the leaders in America expect people in Taiwan to die for their foreign policy
“If it comes down to it, I figure the Chinese are just going to blockade Taiwan and hope for the best.”
I think that is the most likely scenario. Or taking over from the inside, as the next poster suggested.
“China’s million-man army only needs a few hundred thousand Jet-Skis to land all at once.”
Satellite imaging will show the Chinese military buildup well before an attack occurs. If an attack occurs, it would have to have been pre-staged where Chinese military assets are already on Taiwan, objectives to take already set and the necessary assassinations to get rid of C&C and military leaders ready at zero hour.
Once that is done, Chinese transport aircraft would then drop in the troops at internal locations and work their way back the sea. Nothing can happen from the sea since the beaches are well fortified.
That’s just my dos centavos.
I’ve been on some real nice beaches in Taiwan down south. Beach was about 3 miles long. Beautiful white sand. Did not see any military setup.
I hope not. We just pay proxys now because it keeps from any political fallout like occupied body bags and whatnot coming home.
Our government just steals from the taxpayers, writes checks for the poor doomed rabble in a foreign country and always returns 10% for the big guy./s
First a blockade.
If that doesn’t persuade, take out the semiconductor and chemical industries. Taiwan is then unable to feed itself.
It’s an overpopulated mountainous island with few resources.
The men who rule China are cruel but they are not fools. They know that economic troubles and a war gone badly are the most frequent causes for the overthrow of a Chinese government. Often, China then splinters into warring states. Why risk that, especially when the leadership already enjoys a sweet life? And a war over Taiwan would no doubt scupper their grandkids' chances of admission to Stanford and the Ivy League.
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