Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/08/31
By: Claudia Liu and Elaine Hou
Taipei, Aug. 31 (CNA) China’s military has the capability to blockade and seize Taiwan’s outlying
(File photo from China News Service)
islands and has not cut back on military exercises targeting Taiwan, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) said in a report Wednesday.
In its report to the Legislature on China’s military power, the ministry said an invasion by China could be triggered by developments such as Taiwan declaring or moving toward independence, Taiwan acquiring nuclear weapons, and foreign powers deploying forces in Taiwan or intervening in its domestic affairs.
The Chinese military continues to formulate plans for an all-out attack on Taiwan by 2020, while Chinese vessels have been venturing near Taiwan to collect intelligence under the guise of conducting marine research, the MND said in its report.
It said Chinese government vessels have been refurbished to resemble military vessels and are often dispatched to waters near Taiwan for “scientific research” and other purposes. [FULL STORY]
