Taiwan building fleets of drones to repel Chinese invasion: Report
Taipei, Aug 9
Taiwan is building fleets of flying drones and unmanned attack boats to repel any future invasion from China, a media report said, noting accelerating efforts of Taipei to implement a strategy learned from Kyiv.
"The goal is to use them to help locate and attack Chinese forces approaching the island, relying on Taiwanese soldiers trained to move quickly before China can strike them. US commanders who developed this strategy call it a 'hellscape': overwhelming an invading force with waves of drones, missiles, and artillery, and making an amphibious assault so risky that China's leaders are deterred from trying," said the report by The New York Times.
According to it, the threat faced by Taiwan is urgent, as China, which is roughly 110 miles away, claims the self-governed island and, according to its leaders, it will not rule out using force to absorb Taiwan.
The report said that Taiwan is trying to emulate Ukraine's 'David-versus-Goliath approach' where cheap and nimble drones are used to level the playing field against a much larger opponent.
"China's army is not yet strong enough to easily invade Taiwan, many experts believe, and recent purges in the People's Liberation Army's high command have undermined its readiness. But like Taiwan's military, it has been building up fleets of crewless planes and boats, and is investing heavily in technology to detect and jam drones," the report noted.
It also said that the government wants Taiwan to make 100,000 drones a month by 2030, with around half of them exported, aiming ot make the Island a drone industry superpower. The government also wants the military to acquire 210,000 aerial and seaborne drones.
According to Mick Ryan, a retired Australian major general who has studied Ukraine and Taiwan, Kyiv's recent success at long-range strikes suggests that Taipei could also attack vessels leaving ports in China if Beijing launched an amphibious assault, the report said.
"For Taiwan, acquiring the drones may be the straightforward part. To master drone warfare, Taiwan must also retool its military organisation, training, and doctrine. It must learn to operate swarms of drones, rapidly assess and share the intelligence they provide and prevent an enemy from disabling them, according to experts. This will require troops to be more mobile and self-sustaining," emphasised The New York Times report.
It also noted that recently Taiwan created a Littoral Combat Command, integrating drones, mobile missiles and artillery into a coastal shield against potential Chinese invasion.
— IANS
Reader Comments
100,000 drones a month by 2030? That's ambitious but also concerning. Taiwan can't do this alone - they need strong international support. From an Indian perspective, we understand what it's like to face a powerful neighbor. Hopefully diplomacy wins over conflict.
The "David vs Goliath" approach worked for Ukraine, but doesn't mean it'll work everywhere. China has massive resources to counter drones with jamming tech. Plus, Taiwan is much closer to China than Ukraine is to Russia. This could backfire badly. 🤔
India should watch this closely. We have our own border tensions and drone technology is advancing so fast. Taiwan's strategy to become a drone superpower is actually smart - if they can export drones, it gives them economic leverage too.
Honestly, this whole situation is scary. As an Indian, I feel for the Taiwanese people caught in this geopolitical mess. One wrong move and the whole region could destabilize. The US needs to be careful about how much they push this "hellscape" narrative.
Drones are changing warfare everywhere. Taiwan's focus on integrating them into a coastal defense makes tactical sense. But I worry - will soldiers be able to adapt? Technology is only half the battle, as the report says. Training and doctrine are crucial. India's military is also learning these lessons for our own security.
J We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.