Annual Pentagon Report on Chinese Military Power -- with an Eye on Taiwan

Here is a news piece, a blurb from the Dept. of Defense, and the report itself (in PDF format).

Here's a bit from the report on Taiwan specifically:

The PLA’s modernization vis-à-vis Taiwan has continued over the past year, including its build-up of short-range missiles opposite the island. In the near-term, China’s armed forces are rapidly developing coercive capabilities for the purpose of deterring Taiwan’s pursuit of de jure independence. These same capabilities could in the future be used to pressure Taiwan toward a settlement of the cross-Strait dispute on Beijing’s terms while simultaneously attempting to deter, delay, or deny any possible U.S. support for the island in case of conflict. This modernization and the threat to Taiwan continue despite significant reduction in cross-Strait tension over the last year since Taiwan elected a new president.

Feeling a bit queasy yet? (And note how Ma's feckless attempts at cross-Strait "peace" have done NOTHING to defuse Beijing's determination to quash independent Taiwan.) Try this:

Since 2000, China has continued its build-up of conventional ballistic missiles, building a nascent capacity for conventional short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) strikes against Taiwan into what has become one of China’s primary instruments of coercion, not only of Taiwan but of other regional neighbors. In 2000, China’s SRBM force was limited to one “regimental-sized unit” in southeastern China. China has expanded the force opposite Taiwan to seven brigades with a total of 1,050-1,150 missiles.

Note the updated number of missiles on the Chinese coast, all pointed straight at Taiwan. When I first started blogging, the number was around 800. Today it is approximately 1100 and counting. This sort of stuff always makes me laugh bitterly whenever people try to say that Taiwan is the belligerent troublemaker.

Add too China's recent bullyish behavior toward the US Navy in the South China Sea.

Beijing has been ramping up its military capability. It is absolutely imperative to keep an eagle eye on what the CCP is up to.

I end with this unsettling bit on Taiwan specifically, because I'm frankly biased that way. My emphasis in boldface.

Since 2000, the military balance in the Taiwan Strait has continued to shift in Beijing’s favor, marked by the sustained deployment of advanced military equipment to the Military Regions opposite Taiwan. In the 2002 report, the Department of Defense assessed that Taiwan “has enjoyed dominance of the airspace over the Taiwan Strait for many years.” This conclusion no longer holds true. With this reversal, China has been able to develop a range of limited military options to attempt to coerce Taipei.