Yu to report on China's military

China will have the ability to launch surgical strikes against Taiwan using a combination of weapons such as short-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, anti-radiation missiles, electromagnetic pulse (EMP) bombs, and biological and chemical bombs, Minister of National Defense Tang Yao-ming (湯曜明) will report to the legislature today.

"Potential surgical strikes from China would be aimed at damaging Taiwan's political, economic, and military infrastructure and undermine the morale of the Taiwanese people. They can achieve much at low costs," Tang says in the report.

"China's strategy is to win a battle from afar in the shortest time possible," Tang said.

Tang will warn against China's growing ability to launch surgical strikes, or precision strikes, today when he delivers the the Ministry of National Defense's report to the Defense Committee of the legislature.

The report is the most detailed assessment of China's military power that the ministry has made public in recent years.

The report indicates that China might consider using biological and chemical weapons against Taiwan.

China is also likely to attack Taiwan with other new weapons under development such as anti-radiation missiles, EMP bombs and cruise missiles. All these weapons can be used together for a quick attack.

Before surgical-strike weapons are put into service, the greatest threat from China is still its ballistic missiles.

The ministry admits in the report that China has over 400 short-range ballistic missiles aimed at Taiwan.

The report calls attention to the fact that China's ballistic missile threat will increase over the coming years as several new short- and medium-range ballistic missile brigades become activated.

The report also emphasizes China's growing amphibious landing capabilities.

Although the Chinese military does not have enough vessels to launch a large-scale amphibious landing operation against Taiwan, it has become stronger through continuous exercises the report says.

This year, the Chinese military has mobilized over 170,000 troops for participation in amphibious landing drills.

In respect to the threat from China's navy, several facts are highlighted: First, the Chinese navy has acquired the ability to launch attacks from a longer distance; second, it has crossed the so-called "first island chain," which includes Taiwan, to move into the Pacific; third, it has just completed a circumnavigation trip in preparation for operations elsewhere.

As to China's air force, the report predicts that given the continuous progress in arms build-up, the Chinese air force is likely to acquire long-distance strike and multi-sortie air combat capabilities in five years.

But despite China's advances in military modernization, the ministry assures that the armed forces are to be well-prepared for the threats.