China urges retired military to take over Taiwan

China continues to send messages of sovereignty over Taiwan. And the island’s air force is in trouble. Taiwanese warplanes have to take off daily over the Taiwan Strait to repel attacks by Chinese jets on the airspace around the island. It’s a never ending effort. China has deployed 27 aircraft and seven warships in the last 24 hours near the island where the Chinese giant claims sovereignty.

The alert was issued by the Taipei Ministry of Defense, stating that 13 aircraft (including three SU-30, four J-10 and two J-16) had crossed the southwest perimeter of Taiwan’s (Adiz) air defense identification area. , not recognized by Beijing). Taiwan responded by deploying ships, aircraft and ground-based missile systems.

27 PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN ships were detected around Taiwan at 6 am (UTC+8) today. The ROC Armed Forces monitored the situation and deployed CAP aircraft, Navy ships and ground-based missile systems to respond to these activities. pic.twitter.com/BLoqyx8c3T

— 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, PRC 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) May 3, 2023

The importance of drones in the Taiwan Strait

There was no shortage of more technologically advanced aircraft. A BZK-005 UAV drone flew around the island for the second time just days after the TB-001’s unprecedented deployment. The second is a new fighter aircraft designed and developed by Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics and Harbin Aircraft Industry and used by the Navy and Air Force of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China.

The aircraft, which can carry missiles under its wings and perform high-altitude and long-range missions of up to 6,000 kilometers, was deployed by China last week for an unprecedented full encirclement test of the island. “Deploying drones to Taiwan’s Air Identification Zone is an inexpensive and effective way for the Chinese military to test and evaluate some new tactics that are sure to become routine operations,” said Lu Li-shih, former Air Force instructor. ‘Taiwan Naval Academy. According to the military expert, the frequent deployment of these aircraft shows how advanced and efficient Chinese military technology is.

China is not holding back its ambition to reunite the “rebel island” homeland. In his 11-minute address to the nation at the end of 2022, Chinese President Xi never missed the opportunity to recall that “full reunification of the homeland is a shared aspiration of the population on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.” After a brief period of calm, Chinese maneuvers intensified, particularly in response to talks between Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on April 5 in Los Angeles.

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China’s sorties to the Taiwan Air Defense Identity Zone increased by 112.29 percent in April, when 259 aircraft were seen, compared to 112 aircraft detected by the Taipei Ministry of Defense in March. What’s in place, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, is “a series of efforts” to put pressure and jeopardize the guarantee of the status quo “to achieve” the Chinese military’s tactics in the so-called ‘grey zone’. achieve their own security objectives without resorting to the direct and appreciable use of force”.

Retired soldier recruitment

But if it were to resort to force, Beijing could count on an army of almost two million. Before possible conflicts, starting with Taiwan’s hottest file, the Chinese army can increase its ranks by making use of retired soldiers.

The State Council (representing the country’s executive body) and the Central Military Commission (Chinese military’s highest decision-making body) have issued revisions to the military service discipline allowing for both the enlistment and conscription of retired military personnel. New recruits of technology-savvy science and engineering students will have to guarantee greater military and technological competence to the People’s Liberation Army to combat new types of conflicts in new fields such as space and cybersecurity.

Given the Asian giant’s commitment to research “intelligence warfare” using artificial intelligence and other technologies, a recruiting was necessary. With the new law, in addition to recalling retired soldiers, “people in emergency” can also be recruited, depending on the type of personnel needed.

President Xi’s ambitions to become a world-class military power depend on qualified personnel and technological progress on par with his US rival. Beijing has improved its military capabilities, particularly on land and sea, in recent years, including expanding its fleet of amphibious assault ships, submarines and bombers, and in June 2022 launched its third aircraft carrier Fujian. Modernize military forces to bridge the gap with those in the United States.

Will Taiwan be able to counter China’s power?

How would Taiwan respond to the direct use of Chinese military power? Removing any “strategic uncertainty” about its role in the island’s defense, the island government, which has military support from the United States, is seeking cooperation with the White House to develop a fighter jet. on the territory of Taiwan. Although Washington provides military facilities to Taipei, it is careful not to supply the most advanced warplanes such as the F-22 or the F-35. Fear is the fear of having to respond to Chinese retaliation. The two superpowers, China and the United States, have managed to avoid a military confrontation over the Bosphorus, but this peace may not last long.

War trials in the Pacific

But Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said in an interview with Sky News Australia that Taiwan knows that in the event of a conflict with the Chinese giant, it can only rely on its own military capabilities. When asked who could fight alongside Taiwan in the event of a war with China, Wu replied, “That’s a very good question.”