Chinese military steps up anti-mine drills as Taiwan builds sea defences to thwart invasion

Taipei is investigating heavily in hi-tech asymmetric defences in the hope of delaying landings long enough for the US to come to its aid

Recent mainland Chinese drills were designed to test the PLA’s ability to counter these underwater weapons

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PLA minesweepers pictured during an exercise. Photo: Handout

Published: 7:00am, 23 Sep 2020Updated: 7:00am, 23 Sep 2020

China’s military incorporated mine-sweeping exercises into some of its latest naval drills targeting Taiwan, according to recent reports from state media.

Taiwan has been investing in minelayers and developing sophisticated underwater mines in the hope of thwarting the People’s Liberation Army’s plan to take over the island within three days – a move that could buy time for other forces to come to the island’s aid, according to military analysts.

In two recent naval exercises conducted by the PLA’s Eastern and Southern theatre commands, the military’s mine sweepers and minehunters played important roles in helping the flotillas clear sea lanes from underwater mines, state-run China Central Television reported.

The anti-mine training comes as the PLA steps up its island encirclement drills by sending fighter jets and warships into the Taiwan Strait at a time when the island’s authorities are growing closer to the United States.

Beijing, which regards the island as a breakaway province and has never renounced the use of force to bring it back into its fold, has accused Washington and Taipei of promoting independence.

Taiwan has been buying torpedoes from the US and also trying to improve its minelaying abilities as a way of hampering any PLA attempt to land forces on the island, according to Lu Li-Shih, a former instructor at the naval academy in Taiwan.

Lu said the strategy was designed to buy more time for the US Navy and its allies in the region to intervene.