Over the first 48 hours, the fire support ships fired 3766 shells.
From:
I have excepted all I can.
The article is well worth a read. Author makes the point that all of the “traditional” amphibious capability possessed by China does not equal the effort put forth by the Allies in assaulting Sicily.
The Luftwaffe made its presence felt, deadly at times, during the Allied invasion of Sicily. In this photo, German bombs fall perilously close to Allied ships supporting the landings on the Mediterranean island in July 1943.
Now imagine what Taiwan has at it capability having prepared for this attack for the last 70 years.
If they haven't squandered their legacy like our politicians have.
The Chinese don’t have invade. All they need to do is declare a blockade of Taiwan, and make it stick. Thats a much easier military problem, if not much less of a politico-economic risk.
Militarily all they have to do is damage or sink a few merchant ships, at see or in dock, using air and naval assets (probably submarines) and ballistic missiles.
The US and its Asian allies will then have to decide if they want to run a “Malta Convoy” to Taipei and risk open war with China, for control of the East Asian seas. Thats my horror scenario.
A few planes tangle, a commercial ship or two gets fired on, or maybe one of the forward islands gets taken. There will have be a decision to be made - whether to fight back or not.
Pardon me for spitballing here, but the Chinese can make life miserable without invading, and just wait for the Taiwanese to respond with aggression or give in. And what would we do? Defend Taiwan or defend Walmart’s supply lines?
very good article...
“ to look at what it takes to assault a populated island”
There’s the first wrong assumption. I wouldn’t put it past the Chicoms to depopulate Taiwan before sending in troops. I mean, SloJo wouldn’t do anything to stop a genocide.
China would do better invading Siberia.
1. It’s far easier given that Siberia is practically undefended right now.
2. It would be a land invasion of an adjacent country.
3. The West will not sanction China for invading a bit of land that used to belong to them anyway.
4. The West might even help.
Taiwan also has a huge number of “fifth columnists” on the Island. Russia had very few if any in Ukraine as all the pro Russians had concentrated in the Donbas.
“the PLA lacks the necessary power projection and sustainment capability and capacity to execute an opposed occupation of a densely urbanized island”
I’ve been saying that for years on this site.
But dumbasses keep disagreeing.
Yes.
If ChiComs do something they think they can shoot missiles to make Taiwan accept a1C2S deal, which is ludicrous.
But they feel they will have support from certain elements in Taiwan and from the U.S..
However, China has one big advantage...President Biden. From the disaster in the Afghanistan withdrawal it is obvious that Biden will not act decisively and will go into hiding until the ruling cabal loads his teleprompter. China will have free hand to invade and fear few consequences from the US as longer as Dementia Joe is Commander in Chief.