More troubling for the island is the growing concern over whether its military would be able to respond quickly enough, as the PLA continues its strategy of gradually eroding buffer zones.
One former Taiwanese air force commander warned that warplanes could reach Taipei within three minutes of crossing the median line in the Taiwan Strait, too quick for the island’s air force to respond.
The PLA has conducted six large-scale exercises since August 2022 featuring complex manoeuvres, simulated amphibious landings, precision strikes and combined operations that resemble actual combat scenarios.
Its latest drills on Tuesday featured simulated strikes from multiple directions, as well as encirclement, blockade and area control exercises.
