Taiwan’s planned US$7 billion missile boost may push PLA to step up combat readiness

Analysts expect a ‘rational’ response from China’s military and say it will continue to focus on preparedness for war

Taiwanese media reported that the defence ministry proposed a special budget to expand development by top weapons maker

Reading Time:3 minutes

Taiwan’s defence ministry has reportedly proposed a special budget of US$7.14 billion to mass-produce precision and long-range missiles. Photo: Handout

Published: 7:00pm, 23 Aug 2021Updated: 11:23pm, 23 Aug 2021

Taiwan’s defence ministry is reportedly seeking to significantly expand the self-ruled island’s missile development budget, but analysts expect a “rational” response from China’s military despite its sabre-rattling.

They say a war across the Taiwan Strait is unlikely for now, and the People’s Liberation Army will continue to focus on boosting combat readiness.

“At this stage, initiating a strike [against Taiwan] is rather unlikely and [Beijing] will probably take a more rational approach – that could mean more verbal attacks and stepping up the military strategy and preparedness for war,” said Zhu Songling, a professor at the Institute of Taiwan Studies at Beijing Union University.

But he said if tensions were to dramatically worsen, Beijing would up the ante.

Beijing claims Taiwan as its own and has not renounced the use of force to bring the democratic island under its control.

“If Taiwan crosses the line on the national anti-secession law, then it is likely [Beijing] will move towards a non-peaceful response,” Zhu said.