The US government criticizes the Taiwanese military – and expects China to win quickly

US intelligence documents The US government considers Taiwanese military exercises “inadequate” – and expects China to win quickly with an air strike

Taiwan maintains air exercises. According to American documents, the army is still not ready for an attack from China.

© Taiwan Ministry of National Defense/AFP

Feelings between China and Taiwan are tense. But what would happen if China launched an air strike on Taiwan? According to intelligence documents, the US government expects China to win quickly.

According to a leaked US intelligence document, if China attacks Taiwan, it is likely to quickly take control of the island’s airspace. As reported by the Washington Post, citing classified government documents, the Taiwanese military leadership assumes, among other things, that only half of its combat aircraft will be able to counter the Chinese army.

Accordingly, Taiwan’s military leadership also doubts that its air defense will accurately detect Chinese missile launches. According to US intelligence reports, Taipei also fears that it will take up to a week to get its planes into bunkers to protect them from Chinese attacks.

US government: Taiwan is not prepared for an emergency

The US Department of Defense, in turn, considers the Taiwanese military exercises insufficient for actual preparation for an emergency. According to the Washington Post, China’s use of civilian ships for military purposes has hampered the ability of US intelligence agencies to anticipate a possible invasion of Taiwan.

According to the newspaper, the documents are among the classified US papers that were leaked in recent weeks in which a 21-year-old National Guard was said to have passed away. It is one of the most important releases of classified US documents in recent years. The suspect has since been arrested and faces severe punishment for leaking secrets.

The situation between China and Taiwan is coming to a head

Relations between China and Taiwan are currently very tense. China had conducted a three-day military exercise called “Unified Sword” around Taiwan as of last Monday. Chinese units simulated attacks on “key targets” in Taiwan and practiced blockading the island. With military exercises, Beijing responded to a US visit by Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen.

Beijing considers autonomous Taiwan a breakaway region that it wants to reunite with the mainland – if necessary with the use of military force.

lz DPA

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