China's military is changing its strategy from deterrence to pre-emption, planning to use "paralysis warfare" against Taiwan in the future, the Ministry of National Defense said in a report delivered to the legislature's defense committee yesterday.
"Paralysis warfare features Web-based information warfare, saturation ballistic missile attacks, joint precision strikes and seizure of the enemy's capital city by special operations units," the report says.
"Such tactics will become a major option for the Chinese military in its choice of modes of attack against Taiwan in the future," it says. "They emphasize shock and awe effects against the enemy."
The report, which was delivered to lawmakers on the defense committee yesterday, singles out paralysis warfare as the most likely mode of attack that China would use against Taiwan.
Minister of National Defense Tang Yao-ming (
The report says the number of short-range ballistic missiles that China has in its inventory has reached 500. It does not state that these missiles are aimed at Taiwan, but it is believed that Taiwan would be the target.
The report also confirms that China has established a second airborne corps to increase its troops ready for use against Taiwan.
The new airborne corps has been the subject of media speculation in recent months, but had not been confirmed by the ministry until now.
The ministry believes China's military is seeking to acquire the ability of rapid and long-distance deployment of forces.
To counter the new threats, the ministry says it is speeding up the development of high-tech weapons.
The new weapons are focused on electronic warfare. They also include the development of miniaturized weapons on the basis of nanotechnology and superconductors.
It is the first time that the ministry has made public its development of miniaturized weapons.
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