China’s Military Tactics to Isolate Taiwan: Concerns Rise
Washington, DC [US], June 23: China’s military might isolate Taiwan, harm its economy, and force the democratic island to submit to Beijing’s Communist Party without firing a shot. Concerns about the Communist Party’s intentions to control Taiwan have grown due to Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s aggressive stance towards the self-governed island. China’s refusal to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has added to these fears.
Analysts and military strategists suggest two key options for China: a full-scale invasion or a military blockade. However, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington highlights a third option: quarantine. This method involves actions just below the threshold of war, using the China Coast Guard, maritime militia, and various police and maritime safety agencies to enforce a full or partial quarantine of Taiwan. This could cut off access to essential supplies for Taiwan’s 23 million people.
According to CSIS authors Bonny Lin, Brian Hart, Matthew Funaiole, Samantha Lu, and Truly Tinsley, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) might play only auxiliary and support roles. The report states, “China has significantly increased pressure on Taiwan in recent years, stoking fears that tensions could erupt into outright conflict. Much attention has been paid to the threat of an invasion, but Beijing has options besides invading to coerce, punish, or annex Taiwan.”
Recently, China’s Minister of National Defence Admiral Dong Jun warned “external forces” for emboldening Taiwan Independence separatists and said that these intentions are dragging Taiwan into a dangerous situation. He stated that anyone who dares to separate Taiwan from China will “end up in self-destruction.” He accused the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities of pursuing Taiwan’s separation incrementally and erasing the Chinese identity of Taiwan.
Since September 2020, China has intensified its use of gray zone tactics by increasing the number of military aircraft and naval ships near Taiwan’s territory. Gray zone tactics are efforts beyond steady-state deterrence that aim to achieve security objectives without direct and sizable use of force. This latest incident adds to a series of similar provocations by China in recent months, including regular air and naval incursions into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).
Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China, has long been a contentious issue in China’s foreign policy. China asserts its sovereignty over Taiwan and considers it a part of its territory, insisting on eventual reunification, by force if necessary.
