(Washington News) The latest report of the US Congress research institution said that the increase in defense budgets in Taiwan has gradually enhanced its ability to resist potential attacks in mainland China.However, at the same time, a series of challenges facing the tension of military -civilian relations, as well as a series of challenges faced by the island's politics and infrastructure, may damage its resistance.
Thereport also pointed out that the PLA's continued military exercises approaching Taiwan may affect Taiwan's ability to judge and weaken their preparations for military operations in mainland China.
CAITLIN Campbell, the official website of the US Congress Research Service, published the above views on Thursday (August 24).
TheReport pointed out that Taiwan ’s defense advantages include advanced technologies and favorable climate topography conditions, and the increase in national defense budgets and Taiwan’ s defense in the year have also provided Taiwan with certain political and military advantages.
Taiwan previously announced that the national defense budget in 2024 reached NT $ 606.8 billion (about S $ 25.9 billion), accounting for 2.5%of GDP (GDP), which will be a record high. In the past eight years, Taiwan ’s national defense budget has increased by 38%.
However, the report also pointed out that the tight military -civilian relations caused by the internal history and political reasons of Taiwan may damage its defense.For example, some observers believe that the domestic civil defense preparations are insufficient, and the military has difficulties in recruitment, retention and trainers.
At the same time, Taiwan's key infrastructure systems such as energy, food, and communications are vulnerable to external interference.At present, it is impossible to judge how much economic, safe or people's livelihood is afforded when they are willing to or be able to attack Taiwan in the mainland.
TheReport also pointed out that the PLA continued to pressure in the gray area, such as the daily aircraft disturbance platform and the island military exercise, which is also weakening Taiwan's military advantages and combat capabilities.
The report said that these peaceful and low -level non -combat operations may affect Taiwan's judgment of whether the mainland is preparing for the actual attack."If the PLA uses these actions to cover the upcoming attack, it will greatly shorten the reaction time left to Taiwan."