China and Taiwan: A really simple guide
An invasion of Taiwan by China could leave the world on the brink of World War 3, a military expert has warned. Former intelligence officer Philip Ingram explained how Taiwan is preparing to defend itself using its so-called ‘porcupine strategy’, while warning war between the two Asian nations could “ignite an even greater conflict” than that seen in Ukraine, where he described “the world’s attention is fixed”.
China has the largest military in the world, and US intelligence has previously suggested Xi Jinping has ordered his forces to be ready for a possible invasion of Taiwan as soon as 2027. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, viewing the self-ruled island nation as a breakaway province, and has not ruled out seizing it by force. Beijing has been rapidly advancing its military capabilities in recent years, with Russia allegedly also supplying the country with weaponry.
Mr Ingram, a military intelligence expert, said Beijing views Taiwan as “destiny”, while for the US “it’s a red line”.
In the latest episode of The Sun’s Battle Plans Exposed, Mr Ingram detailed how Taiwan — which is around 100 miles off China’s south-east coast — would use its porcupine strategy to defend itself.
He said the strategy, also known as asymmetric defence, does not aim to defeat China in a traditional war but “to make an invasion so difficult, so costly and so bloody that Beijing is deterred from ever attempting it”.