Deputy Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, Lieutenant General Stephen Sklenka, has expressed concerns that China's ongoing military exercises near Taiwan are essentially rehearsals for an annexation of the island. Similar military drills were conducted last year, which included attempts to breach Taiwan's airspace.
Lieutenant General Sklenka highlighted that last year, China completed amphibious assault and counter-intervention operations. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) persists in exercises that simulate infiltrations around Taiwan. China has once again initiated the Joint Sword-2024A exercises.
If conflict breaks out between China and Taiwan, Taiwan's military power pales in comparison. However, their courage and determination do not waver. Whether it's responding to incursions by fighter jets or repelling Chinese warships at sea, Taiwan's resolve remains strong.
There are currently 200 American Special Forces soldiers in Taiwan providing military training to Taiwanese troops, up from just 30 American commandos last year. These forces are stationed on an island facing China, located near the southeastern coast of the mainland.
Additionally, the US Navy's reconnaissance plane, the P-8A Poseidon, routinely patrols the international airspace above Taiwan. These American forces, known as the Green Berets, also have the Black Hornet nano drone deployed in Taiwan for training purposes.
In terms of military assets, China possesses six times more fighter jets than Taiwan. China's paramilitary force comprises 624,000 personnel, while Taiwan's has only 11,500. China's military has a total of 3,285 aircraft, compared to Taiwan's 741. Of these, China boasts 1,200 fighter aircraft, whereas Taiwan has 288. China also has 286 transport aircraft, dwarfing Taiwan's 19 cargo planes.
Source: aajtak
While China commands 79 submarines, Taiwan has only four. China also leads with 7,777 naval fleets to Taiwan's 117 and has two aircraft carriers against Taiwan's none. Additionally, China's military maintains 41 destroyers and 70 corvettes, far outpacing Taiwan's figures.
China's dominance extends to helicopters, with a fleet that includes 281 attack helicopters out of a total of 912, counter to Taiwan's mere 91. In the realm of tanks and armored vehicles, China's military boasts 5,250 tanks and 35,000 armored vehicles, while Taiwan has 1,110 tanks and 3,471 armored vehicles.
When it comes to available manpower for military service, China far exceeds Taiwan, with the potential to conscript over 619.2 million individuals compared to Taiwan's 1 million. With an active duty force of 2 million in China and 170,000 in Taiwan, China also has an advantage in numbers. However, Taiwan's reserve forces number 1.5 million, placing them ahead of China's 5.10 million in terms of reserve military personnel.
The disparity is also evident in infrastructure, with China boasting 507 airports to Taiwan's 37 and 22 maritime ports and terminals to Taiwan's six. In terms of landmass, China's vast territory of 9.596 million square kilometers dwarfs Taiwan's 35,980 square kilometers.
In population, China ranks first globally with over 1.39 billion inhabitants, whereas Taiwan occupies the 57th position with a population exceeding 23.5 million. This means Taiwan's population is insignificant when compared to China's. Moreover, China possesses a manpower of over 754.8 million, overwhelming Taiwan's 12.2 million.
