Only one small section of the entire Taiwan coast is physically capable of being the target of a sea-based invasion. It is, of course, heavily defended. And China does not presently have a sufficient number of landing craft, either sea-going or launchable from larger craft, to mount such aninvasion. In short, it has the troops, but not the transport.
Similar limitations apply to an airborne invasion. China lacks the paratroopers and the jump planes to mount that kind of attack either, even presuming that the lumbering transports for such an assault could survive the trip across the Taiwan Strait in the face of Taiwanese and American defenses.
Taiwan should be on high alert for the possibilities of sabotage and/or terrorism. However, it should have no fear of actual invasion, at this time. China is the problem for the day after tomorrow. First, Iraq. Then, North Korea. Then we begin in earnest on China.
Congressman Billybob
Latest column, "Using the Old Noodle," now up on UPI, and FR.
If China is finally feeling some kind of pressure to sit on NK, then NK might be threatening Taiwan. But fear of a PRC takeover might be easier for the public to deal with than fear of NK nukes? Just a thought...