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In order to create “hybrid warfare” techniques against Taiwan, including the use of drones and psychological pressure, China is studying the lessons learned from the conflict in Ukraine, a senior Taiwanese security official claimed on Wednesday.
Taiwan has carefully examined the lessons learned from the conflict in the Ukraine to prepare for the possibility that China, which regards the democratically-ruled island as its own territory, would one day carry out threats to use force to uphold its claim to sovereignty.
In response to Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei in August, China conducted military drills surrounding Taiwan to show its displeasure. Since then, while at a slower rate, China has continued its military activities.
Chen Ming-tong, Director-General of Taiwan’s National Security Bureau, stated in front of the legislature that China was also keeping an eye on the situation in Ukraine.
He informed parliamentarians that “this year, the communist military has strengthened its battle training and preparation against strong foes by learning from the experience of the Russia-Ukraine war” in order to establish “hybrid warfare” against Taiwan.
After its August drills, China increased its “grey zone” and hybrid activities against Taiwan, Chen claimed, particularly with the help of drones that flew both close to Taiwan’s self-governing islands off its coast and within Taiwan’s air defence identification zone.
Taiwan claims China uses irregular tactics in its “grey-zone” warfare campaign, such as repeatedly flying into Taiwan’s air defence zone and causing Taiwan’s air force to scramble, to exhaust an opponent without resorting to open conflict.
In reference to a drone-shot video that appeared on Chinese social media in August showing Taiwanese soldiers on offshore islands, he claimed that China had published photographs of Taiwan’s military online in an effort to “slander” it and criticise the government.
According to Chen, these actions “show that the Chinese communists have escalated their cognitive warfare, grey zone activities, and other hybrid approaches, which have created a new form of threat to national security.”
An inquiry for comment was not immediately answered by the China’s Taiwan Affairs Office. Taiwan has been accused by China of escalating tensions by “colluding” with international powers to support the island’s official independence.
According to Chen, China’s military threats have united support for Taiwan from the US and its allies, ensuring that what occurred to Ukraine won’t happen across the Taiwan Strait.
By doing this, he claimed, Taiwan will be better able to cope with China and prevent “their schemes to attack Taiwan”.
The invasion of Ukraine by Russia is referred to as a “special military operation.”
