The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission on Wednesday concluded that China has, or soon will have, the ability to invade Taiwan. The advisory body recommended urgent steps to deter a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. One of the recommendations is funding for surveillance, besides deployment of cruise and ballistic missiles and other munitions in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Commission, in its annual report, said that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) is capable of landing at least 25,000 troops on the island nation. “A lack of clarity in US policy could contribute to a deterrence failure if Chinese leaders interpret that policy to mean opportunistic aggression against Taiwan might not provoke a quick or decisive US response,” the report said.
China split from Taiwan after a civil war in 1949, but, now expects that the island nation would accede to it. In a video call with US President Joe Biden on Monday, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that Beijing would respond to any provocations on Taiwan. Tensions in the Taiwan Strait have increased in recent months with China frequently flying military aircraft over Taiwanese airspace.
The report addressed a range of economic issues between the United States and China. It recommended that Congress consider legislation to address risks to US investors and interests in China investment.
China's capital controls "may limit investors’ abilities to move money out of equity and bond investments and the lack of oversight by trusted authorities may jeopardize investors' funds," Commission chair Robin Cleveland told Reuters.
Some of the new tactics of the PLA have offset the US military's potency in the region. According to the report, apart from being trained in combat on traditional military transport, PLA troops have trained with ferries, barges and other civilian vessels.
There has been an increase in tensions between the two sides after the US acknowledged the presence of American military trainers in Taiwan. The advisory body also recommended that the US enhance its capabilities in the region, making it easier for Taiwan to buy military equipment and be capable of self-defence, and at the same time deploy more US military resources in the region so that chances of survivability are high in case of a Chinese invasion.
