According to a leaked American secret document, in the event of an attack on Taiwan, China would probably quickly take control of the airspace over the island. As the Washington Post reported on Saturday, citing the secret government documents, the Taiwanese military leadership assumes, among other things, that only half of its fighter jets would be able to counter the Chinese military.
According to the report, the Taiwanese military leadership also doubts that its air defense would accurately detect Chinese missile launches. According to American intelligence reports, Taipei also fears that it could take up to a week to move its planes to bunkers to protect them from Chinese attacks.
Exercises inadequate from the U.S. point of view
The U.S. Department of Defense, on the other hand, considers the Taiwanese military exercises to be insufficient to actually be prepared for an emergency. According to the Washington Post, China's use of civilian ships for military purposes has affected the ability of American intelligence agencies to foresee a possible invasion of Taiwan.
According to the newspaper, the documents are among the secret American papers leaked in recent weeks, which a 21-year-old National Guardsman is said to have disseminated. It is one of the most momentous publications of secret American documents in recent years. The suspect has since been arrested, he faces a harsh punishment for betrayal of secrets.
Relations between China and Taiwan are currently extremely tense. Until last Monday, China had held a three-day military maneuver called the "United Sword" around Taiwan. The Chinese units simulated attacks on "key targets" in Taiwan and practiced a blockade of the island. Beijing's military exercises were in response to an American visit by Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. Beijing regards self-governing Taiwan as a breakaway territory that it wants to reunite with the mainland – by military force if necessary.