In a grim assessment of its defence capabilities, the self-ruled island of Taiwan said its closest neighbour, China, can "paralyse" its defences and fully monitor its deployments, Reuters reported.
Beijing views Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to bring it into the fold of the mainland.
Much more pessimistic view as compared to last year
As compared to its annual report to parliament on the Chinese military, when Taiwan's Defence Ministry said China was still unable to launch a full assault on the island, the ministry offered a far more dismal view this year.
In its report this year, it said that China can launch "soft and hard electronic attacks" that would block communications across the western part of the first island chain, which run from Japan's Okinawa, Taiwan and down to the Philippines and Borneo.
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China views the first island chain as critical to both its defence and economy as it relies heavily on the strategic waterways for maritime trade, according to the Australian Institute of International Affairs.
And as part of this string of islands, Taiwan is considered to be of strategic importance.
Taiwan added that attacks from China, aided by its "internet army", against the global internet could paralyse the island's air defences, as well as its command of the sea and counter-attack system abilities.
This presents "a huge threat" to Taiwan, the ministry said.
In addition, Taiwan said China can monitor movements around the island with its improved reconnaissance abilities using Beidou -- its answer to the U.S.-owned satellite navigation system -- along with its use of spy planes and intelligence gathering vessels.
However, similar to last year's report, the ministry noted that China still lacks the transport abilities and logistical support that would facilities a large-scale invasion. Nevertheless, they noted that China is working on strengthening these capabilities at the moment.
Making military defence a priority
Taiwan has been boosting its military spending in recent years as tensions with China persist.
Beijing blames the tensions on the current Taiwanese administration due to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's refusal to affirm the One-China principle.
China has ramped up military pressure on Taiwan, increasing the frequency of military aircraft incursions into Taiwan's air defence identification zone, which had in turn caused Taiwan's air force to scramble to intercept the jets on more than one occasion.
A Taiwan-based diplomat had called such a strategy a campaign of "attrition" that's intended to wear Taiwan down, Reuters reported.
Tsai has made the reinforcement of Taiwan's military a priority, recently stressing on the importance of relying on themselves for their own defence as concerns were raised over the U.S.' commitment to its allies in the wake of its withdrawal from Afghanistan.
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