As China ups war preparations, Taiwan augments deployment in South China Sea

Taipei/Beijing: – Taiwanese Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-Cheng informed that Taiwan has augmented its war preparedness. He claimed that China may start a war any time now. Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-Cheng said that the Itu Aba island’s defence deployment in the Paracel Islands region has been increased. Moreover, the Taiwanese Defence Minister also informed the parliament that the United States has approved the transfer of submarine technologies to Taiwan.

A few days ago, Admiral Phillip Davidson, Chief of the US Indo-Pacific Command, had pointed to the increasing Chinese threat during a hearing in the US Congress. Admiral Davidson had warned that China could attack Taiwan in the next six years. It has been observed that the Chinese activities in the South China Sea region have increased after the change of guard in the United States.

In the beginning of March, China announced month-long war exercises in the South China Sea sector. Chinese destroyers equipped with missiles also are participating in the exercises. At the same time, China also announced that the indigenously built aircraft carrier is being commissioned in the Chinese navy. Thereafter, China has started building new airstrips and other airbases within 200 kilometres from Taiwan.

Against this background, the information shared by the Taiwanese Defence Minister with the parliament becomes significant. Former US President Donald Trump had taken many decisions for huge supply of defence equipment and other cooperation with Taiwan during his tenure. Based on this support from the United States, Taiwan also started internally increasing its defence preparedness. Given the change in guard in the United States and the increasing Chinese activities in the South China Sea, Taiwan has expedited activities.

China is claiming rights over the entire South China Sea and has also claimed rights over all the island groups in this sector. Out of these, Itu Aba, an island among the Paracel Islands, is under Taiwanese control. It is believed that if China starts a war, it will acquire the smaller islands away from the Taiwanese mainland. Against this background, Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-Cheng informed that Taiwan has increased its defence deployment on these smaller islands.

Taiwanese Defence Minister also announced that Taiwan has started developing a submarine indigenously to counter China. Besides, the United States has approved the supply of submarine technology to Taiwan. It is believed that the transfer of advanced submarine technology by the United States to Taiwan could prove to be an incitement for China. Sources informed that after receiving the submarine technology, Taiwan has started efforts to build an advanced Missile Defence System with assistance from the United States.