Taiwan’s military modernization not yet tackled: Japanese paper

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/08/28
By: Yang Ming-chu and Ko Lin 
Taipei, Aug. 28 (CNA) Taiwan’s defense budget has been relatively stagnant over the last 20 years and its military modernization program still remains an issue that has not been tackled, Japan’s annual defense review said Tuesday.

Up until 2017, China’s military spending has exceeded that of Taiwan’s by as much as 15 times, according to Japan’s defense white paper.

Outlining security concerns about China’s expanding military might, the paper also looks at how the military balance in the Taiwan Strait is tilting toward Beijing, and notes that the margin is growing wider by the year.

But despite the sheer size of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), making a full-scale amphibious landing assault on the island is still highly unfeasible, it said.
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