China stands no chance of winning in an attempted invasion of Taiwan, National Security Bureau Director-General Chen Ming-tong (陳明通) said yesterday.
Chen made the remarks during a question-and-answer session at the legislature in Taipei after Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lee Guei-min (李貴敏) asked him about US Chief of Naval Operations Michael Gilday’s comment on Wednesday that China could attack Taiwan as soon as this year or next year.
“A military invasion of Taiwan will lead to international sanctions and diplomatic isolation, [and Chinese President Xi Jinping, 習近平] would be to blame for sinking any hopes of a great ‘Chinese revival,’” Chen told a news conference.
Photo: CNA
Both sides of the Taiwan Strait should respect each other and develop their own countries, he added.
Many scenarios have been put forward regarding China’s “readiness” to invade Taiwan, Chen told lawmakers.
The more recent theories suggesting an invasion date of as early as next year to 2025 might be based on China’s attempts to force Taiwan to the negotiation table by threatening war, he said, without specifying what the negotiations could involve.
This could be carried out through a show of military force, for example by blockading Taiwan, which would be tantamount to war, Chen said.
The nation’s security apparatus has drafted plans to respond to such a scenario, he added.
Due to the ever-changing nature of warfare, it is difficult to predict exactly when a Chinese invasion could take place, Chen said.
The bureau takes note of all suggested timelines and is always on the lookout for any signs of a possible invasion, he added.
KMT Legislator Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) cited Ministry of Economic Affairs data showing that in the event of a blockade, Taiwan would only have 146 days of oil, 10 days of liquefied natural gas and 39 days of coal in its reserves.
“If we do not have power, it would not matter if we have Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (台積電),” Chiang said.
Chen said he was not at liberty to respond to Chiang’s remarks.
Asked by reporters about Xi’s remarks during the Chinese Communist Party National Congress on Sunday that Beijing would not give up on the use of force to occupy Taiwan, Chen said Xi’s words were “cliche.”
INSURRECTION: The NSB said it found evidence the CCP was seeking snipers in Taiwan to target members of the military and foreign organizations in the event of an invasion The number of Chinese spies prosecuted in Taiwan has grown threefold over a four-year period, the National Security Bureau (NSB) said in a report released yesterday. In 2021 and 2022, 16 and 10 spies were prosecuted respectively, but that number grew to 64 last year, it said, adding that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was working with gangs in Taiwan to develop a network of armed spies. Spies in Taiwan have on behalf of the CCP used a variety of channels and methods to infiltrate all sectors of the country, and recruited Taiwanese to cooperate in developing organizations and obtaining sensitive information
BREAKTHROUGH: The US is making chips on par in yield and quality with Taiwan, despite people saying that it could not happen, the official said Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) has begun producing advanced 4-nanometer (nm) chips for US customers in Arizona, US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said, a milestone in the semiconductor efforts of the administration of US President Joe Biden. In November last year, the commerce department finalized a US$6.6 billion grant to TSMC’s US unit for semiconductor production in Phoenix, Arizona. “For the first time ever in our country’s history, we are making leading edge 4-nanometer chips on American soil, American workers — on par in yield and quality with Taiwan,” Raimondo said, adding that production had begun in recent
Seven hundred and sixty-four foreigners were arrested last year for acting as money mules for criminals, with many entering Taiwan on a tourist visa for all-expenses-paid trips, the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) said on Saturday. Although from Jan. 1 to Dec. 26 last year, 26,478 people were arrested for working as money mules, the bureau said it was particularly concerned about those entering the country as tourists or migrant workers who help criminals and scammers pick up or transfer illegally obtained money. In a report, officials divided the money mules into two groups, the first of which are foreigners, mainly from Malaysia
SILICON VALLEY HUB: The office would showcase Taiwan’s strengths in semiconductors and artificial intelligence, and help Taiwanese start-ups connect with global opportunities Taiwan has established an office in Palo Alto, one of the principal cities of Silicon Valley in California, aimed at helping Taiwanese technology start-ups gain global visibility, the National Development Council said yesterday. The “Startup Island Taiwan Silicon Valley hub” at No. 299 California Avenue is focused on “supporting start-ups and innovators by providing professional consulting, co-working spaces, and community platforms,” the council said in a post on its Web site. The office is the second overseas start-up hub established by the council, after a similar site was set up in Tokyo in September last year. Representatives from Taiwanese start-ups, local businesses and
RSS