Mainland Chinese magazine outlines how surprise attack on Taiwan could occur
- Article and video detailing how the island could be prepared for PLA landing coincide with Communist Party centenary celebrations
- Publication does not explore possible counter-attacks or responses from other key players in its scenario
An accompanying video was also posted on social media platform Weibo by the publication Naval and Merchant Ships, with the message “we must solemnly warn some people that the road of Taiwan independence only leads to a dead end”.
Beijing regards the self-ruled island as a renegade province, to be returned to mainland control, by force if necessary.
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The magazine did not go into possible counter-attacks or responses from other key players such as the US and Japan in its scenario.
According to the article, the first round would consist mainly of ballistic missile attacks aimed at destroying information gathering and decision-making assets including airports, early warning radar, anti-air missile bases, and command centres across the island.
Weapons used at this stage could include the DF-16 – a short-range ballistic missile which the magazine said the island’s missile shield system would find difficult to intercept – and ammunition dispensers, which would cause more damage per strike. “The attacks against Taiwan’s airports would continue until [Chinese] surface troops had accomplished an assault landing,” it said.
Naval ports could be attacked with air strikes by China’s H-6 bombers and J-16 fighter jets, the article said, adding that they should only be “temporarily suspended” rather than “completely destroyed” so the PLA could use them for a landing.