Editorial: Independent national defense to counter China’s military threats|Apple Daily Taiwan
President Tsai Ing-wen hosted the launching ceremony of a Tuo Chiang-class guided-missile corvette and a high-speed minelayer the other day, marking the materialization of Taiwan’s “Indigenous Defense Ship” initiative. That the first Taiwan-made Tuo Chiang-class corvette has been named “Ta Chiang” is steeped in meaning, as it is a tribute to the Paiwan Indigenous people’s fearlessness and bravery in war. The Ta Chiang, the first mass produced ship of the Tuo Chiang-class, is dubbed the “aircraft killer”, while the high-speed minelayer is noted for its defense capabilities as it can be deployed rapidly and is highly mobile. Now the two ships have been brought into service and are helping with the defense of the Taiwan Strait. This is of great significance at a time when China has kept sending its warplanes to encroach on Taiwan and undermining the stability of the Taiwan Strait.
The “Indigenous Defense Ship” initiative is an important principle of the development of our country’s defense. There are two levels of significance, one symbolic and one practical. In terms of its symbolic significance, the gap between Taiwan and China’s military capabilities continues to widen. While the procurement of high-capability national defense weapons is important, it gives an impression of reliance and often puts Taiwan in a passive role. The independent development of its national defense industry can demonstrate to the world Taiwan’s resolve to defend itself. Admiral Phil Davidson, Commander of the US’s Indo-Pacific Command, has said recently that democratic nations in the Asia-Pacific facing the threat of long-range attacks by China must show the determination to defend themselves and expand their capabilities of joint defense, adding that it is the only way to counter the military threats of China effectively. That the Ta Chiang warship has been brought into service successfully shows Taiwan’s determination and ability to defend itself from China’s military threats.
Submarine development hindered by budget freeze
As for the practical significance, the Ta Chiang warship is an important link to the development of Taiwan’s capabilities for asymmetric warfare. As Taiwan is an island nation, naval defense is of crucial importance. China is constantly developing its aircraft capabilities, trying to gain an advantage in the Taiwan Strait and even displaying the ability to fight distant warfare. Although China is ahead of Taiwan in terms of military statistics, our goal is self-defense, which is different from China’s goal of invasion. Therefore, the deterrence of China with our capabilities for asymmetric warfare is an achievable goal. The Ta Chiang warship enhances our ability to strike an aircraft carrier, while the high-speed minelayer is equipped with the ability to deploy mines rapidly. They are both vessels for near seas defense. This, coupled with our military might in the air, enables Taiwan to achieve the goal of self-defense in the Taiwan Strait through the development of asymmetric warfare capabilities.
China has taken advantage of the global COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing confusion over the US election to step up its military intimidation of Taiwan. It has constantly deployed warplanes to encroach on Taiwan in a war of attrition and psychological warfare, and has flexed its muscles through war games and demonstration of gun power in order to intimidate its neighboring nations. At this juncture, Taiwan is striving for the sale of more modernized weapons. On the other hand, it is developing its submarines and implementing its plan of “indigenous defense ships”. This objective is correct.
What is regrettable is that, at a time of China’s wolf warrior diplomacy and military threats, the party in opposition still sees the issue of Taiwan’s national defense objectives from the perspective of party politics, and is boycotting them. The Kuomintang, a long-time party in power, has not only questioned our country’s ability to defend itself and damaged the morale of our national military forces, but has even proposed to freeze the budget for Taiwan’s national defense. Even though it can be unfrozen in the future, it can still present uncertainty for the development of submarines and the “Indigenous Defense Ship” initiative.
Hong Kong’s lesson must be learned
The development of asymmetric warfare capabilities means that Taiwan will be facing China’s threats in a David-versus-Goliath strategic environment. A small nation cannot afford to be plagued by internal divisions. Apart from developing its ability to defend itself independently, what is even more important for Taiwan is unity and the shoring up of the psychological line of defense. National defense is the prerequisite for peace. To deter China from invading Taiwan and to maintain peace, Taiwan must not start a war, but it must not be afraid of one either. There have been proponents of appeasement in Taiwan who have been spreading the defeatist view in society that “our country cannot win the war and our allies will not come to our rescue”.
The proposal of these defeatists is that Taiwan should seek peace through negotiations and compromises. But in fact, if there is not independent and effective national defense, Taiwan will not be in a position to ask for negotiations or peace. Thinking backward, as long as the CCP remains a dictatorial regime, Taiwan will definitely lose its democracy and freedom no matter whether the endgame is “One country, two systems” or peaceful unification. Hong Kong is a blood-stained illustration of this.
“One country, two systems” cannot come of a combination of democracy and authoritarianism; it is impossible for them to coexist under the same regime. The lessons of Hong Kong and Xinjiang are not distant. Faced with China’s overbearingness and barbarism, Taiwan can safeguard its democracy, freedom and human rights only by developing its independent defense capabilities and bringing together a coalition of allies that believe in democracy.
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