Advertisement
US leaks say Taiwan’s air force is ill-prepared for China attack: report
- The Washington Post said recent internet leaks of confidential information show that Taiwan officials doubt their air force can accurately detect incoming missiles
- Tensions between Taiwan and China have increased of late amid Chinese military manoeuvres
Reading Time:1 minute
Why you can trust SCMP
40
Taiwan’s air force is vulnerable if mainland China decides to attack the island, a US media report said on Saturday citing leaks from US intelligence.
The Washington Post newspaper said it had scoured the leaks of confidential information on the internet and they show that Taiwan officials doubt that the air force can accurately detect incoming missiles.
Only a little over half of Taiwan’s jets are conflict-ready, the Post added, meaning mainland China would have much better chances than previously believed to establish air superiority.
02:28
‘Preparing for war’: China revises military recruitment rules for the first time since 2001
‘Preparing for war’: China revises military recruitment rules for the first time since 2001
The leaked documents also say that Pentagon analysts consider Taiwan’s missile warning drills insufficient, the newspaper added.
Advertisement
Tensions between Taiwan and mainland China have increased of late amid Chinese military manoeuvres. Beijing claims the democratic nation as part of its country, but Taiwan has had an independent government for more than 70 years.
Dozens of leaks from US intelligence have been circulating on the web for weeks. A 21-year-old soldier, Jack Teixeira, is suspected of putting the information into a chat room which was then copied. He was arrested on Thursday.
The US government has warned that the documents could have been manipulated and gave no comment when contacted by the Post.
Advertisement
Select Voice
Choose your listening speed
Get through articles 2x faster
1.25x
250 WPM
Slow
Average
Fast
1.25x