Vlad Plasmius
Junior Member
Now, while most people talk about the invasion of Taiwan, we tend to forget there are Taiwanese-held islands on the coast of China. Any invasion would have to factor in these islands. So, the question here is, can Taiwan effectively defend these islands were conflict to erupt?
Now here's what we have:
- Matsu has a Tien Kung missile battery with a range of 100 kilometers and the Hsiung Feng II with a similar range for ant-shipping.
- Matsu Islands are home to about 18,000 Taiwanese troops
- Kinmen Islands are within 2 miles of the Chinese mainland
- Kinmen Islands are home to about 55,000 troops
- Are capable of launching artillery strikes on Fujian province at the beginning of a war
- Xiamen has S-300 batteries preventing any air support to Quemoy island
- Xiamen is also home to a port making it possible to send ships to Quemoy and maintain them
- Two divisions, a normal infantry and motorized infantry, and five brigades are headquartered in Xiamen
- The U.S.-Taiwan defense agreement does not cover the islands on the mainland coast
The Sky Bow battery gives Taiwan some limited air defense capability over mainland China. That would need to be removed completely to keep China on the offense. Given that the islands have an airport with two more planned, China would have good reason to invade the islands. With Taiwan's development of a cruise missile the ability to get inside Chinese airspace and fire one would be a threat needing to be dealt with.
On Kinmen the proximity to Chinese airbases, air defenses, naval bases, and army bases makes it a key target for attack. Naval power would be able to cut off the island from naval support and air defenses and air power could suppress ground forces and prevent airlifts. The artillery regiments stationed there would be able to shell Kinmen island, though Taiwanese forces could react in turn. In a pre-emptive strike, however, it’s likely that initial air support and artillery shelling would negate this kind of attack.
If both island groups were invaded successfully the PRC would likely end up with thousands of prisoners to use to advantage in negotiations. In addition, China would have reduced Taiwan’s active military force to around 147,000. The most important part is that such an attack can reduce any delusions of China being weak and incapable of taking on Taiwan. It would serve an important warning to Taiwan.
This would be an important operation in the event of full-on war with Taiwan. It would allow for a slight narrowing of the field of operation in the Taiwan Straits. And make it easier to create an effective blockade of the Straits by filling them with destroyers. This would help pave way for an invasion of the Penghu islands and establishment of a beachhead in Taiwan.
Now here's what we have:
- Matsu has a Tien Kung missile battery with a range of 100 kilometers and the Hsiung Feng II with a similar range for ant-shipping.
- Matsu Islands are home to about 18,000 Taiwanese troops
- Kinmen Islands are within 2 miles of the Chinese mainland
- Kinmen Islands are home to about 55,000 troops
- Are capable of launching artillery strikes on Fujian province at the beginning of a war
- Xiamen has S-300 batteries preventing any air support to Quemoy island
- Xiamen is also home to a port making it possible to send ships to Quemoy and maintain them
- Two divisions, a normal infantry and motorized infantry, and five brigades are headquartered in Xiamen
- The U.S.-Taiwan defense agreement does not cover the islands on the mainland coast
The Sky Bow battery gives Taiwan some limited air defense capability over mainland China. That would need to be removed completely to keep China on the offense. Given that the islands have an airport with two more planned, China would have good reason to invade the islands. With Taiwan's development of a cruise missile the ability to get inside Chinese airspace and fire one would be a threat needing to be dealt with.
On Kinmen the proximity to Chinese airbases, air defenses, naval bases, and army bases makes it a key target for attack. Naval power would be able to cut off the island from naval support and air defenses and air power could suppress ground forces and prevent airlifts. The artillery regiments stationed there would be able to shell Kinmen island, though Taiwanese forces could react in turn. In a pre-emptive strike, however, it’s likely that initial air support and artillery shelling would negate this kind of attack.
If both island groups were invaded successfully the PRC would likely end up with thousands of prisoners to use to advantage in negotiations. In addition, China would have reduced Taiwan’s active military force to around 147,000. The most important part is that such an attack can reduce any delusions of China being weak and incapable of taking on Taiwan. It would serve an important warning to Taiwan.
This would be an important operation in the event of full-on war with Taiwan. It would allow for a slight narrowing of the field of operation in the Taiwan Straits. And make it easier to create an effective blockade of the Straits by filling them with destroyers. This would help pave way for an invasion of the Penghu islands and establishment of a beachhead in Taiwan.