Quote:
Originally Posted by Officer of Engineers
Regardless of who wins or who loses, the PLA is tasked with taking back Taiwan and it is almost as though Taiwan has been the excuse for everything the military is doing except taking back Taiwan.
The land forces had bough more artillery and more tanks than ever before, assets that does not aid in any form or shape in taking Taiwan. They've gone with the most impressive experiementation with the 155 Light Mech Regt meant more for a local raid than a 100 mile force projection.
And yet, we're told that these things are meant for Taiwan ... well, no one is saying the Chinese ain't smart in deception.
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Exactly. After so many years, most people still don't see that a "hot" but not "boiled" Taiwan situation suits China (and USA) nicely. It's going to be a long process: a old chinese saying, cooking a frog with warm water. Let's see which side can hold on longer.
That's why we have this funny situation: On China's side, although she cries to attack Taiwan, she's actually doing lots of long term non-Taiwan related military modernisations. On Taiwan's side, although she cries to fight for independance, the pro-independance ruling party seldomly spend extra bucks to enhance her defense.
Both sides are bluffing.
For China, Taiwan issue is a short term problem that may not worth heavy investment. If the situation can drag on for another couple of decades and China's long term modernisation can bear substantial fruits, then military requirements for Taiwan's final showdown will be met automatically.
For Taiwan, the ruling party has to sell the independance policy in a way that voters would believe independance can bring peace and prosperity to their daily life rather than dragging them into a war. So government can't increase tax to drastically increase defense. Also, realistically, it's suicidal to get into an arms race with China, especially when China is obviously not targetting Taiwan for a race, if there is a race.
IMHO, China is doing her military modernisation that's long over due. Taiwan issue is a perfect excuse/opportunety. Taiwan so far has been mostly smart enough not to respond. But China is keeping up the temperature, how long can Taiwan hold on by not investing heavily into defense? It seems that the ruling party is starting to fall for it now.