China Is Prepared to Blockade Taiwan

China’s military is more ready than ever to surround and blockade Taiwan to try to force it into submission, the Wall Street Journal reported on March 23.

Over the past few years and especially in recent months, China has shown what it can do to Taiwan. In the increasingly large and intense drills, Chinese forces have encircled the island and simulated blockades.

From drills to war? In October, a record 125 Chinese military aircraft took part in large-scale drills simulating a blockade of Taiwan.

In December, Taiwan raised its alert level when around 90 Chinese Navy and Coast Guard ships were detected around the island for military drills.

Then last week, an extraordinarily large number of Chinese military ships, planes and drones entered the airspace and waters surrounding Taiwan. Beijing said the drills were a response to statements and actions by the United States and Taiwan.

According to the report, China could soon shift from drills to war without notice.

Blockade scenario: The U.S., Taiwan and other experts say the scenario could play out like this:

• China would begin with an air assault on Taiwan’s infrastructure, including military facilities, ports, airports and energy terminals.
• It would then encircle the Island with warships at enough distance to avoid Taiwan’s shore-based antiship missiles.
• Meanwhile, Chinese J-15 fighters would be deployed to deter potential U.S. or other forces.
• Civilian vessels of China’s coast guard would fill the gaps between the warships, completely surrounding the island.
• Chinese submarines would lay mines in the harbors at Taiwan’s main ports to cut off the island from the rest of the world.
• Cargo ships would drag their anchors across the bottom of the sea to sever the undersea fiber optic cables that connect Taiwan to the Internet. Chinese cyberattacks would target Taiwan’s military and financial systems.

Taiwan relies on imports of oil, coal and natural gas for 96 percent of its power. It also imports around 70 percent of its food supply. A blockaded island would have no choice but submit to China.

The Trumpet said: One way or another, watch for Taiwan to become part of China. In 1998, Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry wrote in “Taiwan Betrayal”:

How could anyone fail to see that Taiwan is destined to become a part of mainland China? These [24 million] people are going to be forced into the Chinese mold; and it is going to happen for one reason: because of a pitifully weak-willed America.