“We know that they are expanding, modernizing their military capabilities. And in a sense, they have the advantage of time. They have enough time on their side,” said Huang.
Taiwan’s military leaders are taking steps to counter China’s growing military might. This includes increasing defense spending and modernizing the country’s military capabilities.
“We are looking at increasing our spending on national defense as a percentage of GDP, and we are trying to push the limits of what we can buy in terms of weapons systems,” said Huang.
In recent years, Taiwan has also sought to deepen its defense ties with other countries, including the United States. The US has long been a key ally of Taiwan, providing military support and equipment to help the country defend itself against threats from China.
“Taiwan and the United States have a mutual defense treaty, and we’re hopeful that if we are threatened or if there’s an actual attack on us, that the United States will come to our aid,” said Huang.
Despite these efforts, Taiwan remains deeply vulnerable to China’s military might. With a population of just over 23 million people, Taiwan has a relatively small military and limited resources to defend itself against a major power like China.
“They (China) are a military giant, and even if they only use a fraction of their military power, it could be very difficult for Taiwan to defend itself,” said Huang.
Despite the challenges, Taiwan remains determined to defend its sovereignty and independence. While the government in Taipei continues to pursue closer ties with the United States and other allies, the country’s military leaders are focused on building a strong, capable military that can defend Taiwan against any threat.
“We are doing everything we can to prepare for the worst-case scenario. We hope it never happens, but we have to be prepared,” said Huang.
In recent years, China has grown increasingly assertive in its territorial claims across the Pacific, including in the South China Sea and East China Sea. The country’s military buildup has also sparked concerns in neighboring countries like Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam.
Despite these concerns, China has shown no signs of backing down, and its leaders appear determined to expand China’s influence across the region.
As China’s military might continues to grow, the United States and its allies are increasingly focused on countering Chinese aggression and ensuring stability across the Pacific.
“We view China as a strategic competitor. We have an interest in ensuring that China doesn’t dominate or control the region,” said Huang.
To achieve this goal, the United States and its allies are taking steps to strengthen their military capabilities and deepen their defense ties. This includes increased military cooperation, joint exercises and training, and the deployment of advanced weapons systems across the region.
Through these efforts, the United States and its allies hope to deter Chinese aggression and promote stability across the Pacific.
Despite the challenges ahead, Taiwan and its allies remain committed to defending the region and ensuring that China does not dominate the Pacific in the 21st century.
“We believe in democracy and freedom, and we will do everything we can to defend those values. We are committed to defending our sovereignty and our way of life,” said Huang.
As tensions continue to rise across the Pacific, the world watches closely to see how the situation unfolds. With China’s military might growing by the day and Taiwan’s vulnerability becoming more apparent, the coming years will be critical for the future of the region and the world at large.
