In a report released on Feb. 26, US think tank the Center for a New American Security asserted that Taiwan could deploy large numbers of drones and other uncrewed systems, in combination with conventional weapons, to create a “hellscape” scenario for Chinese forces attempting to cross the Taiwan Strait, thereby achieving a deterrent effect.
US Indo-Pacific Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo coined the term “hellscape” in 2024, when he stated that if China were to attempt to invade Taiwan, the US military could deploy numerous uncrewed submarines, surface ships and aerial drones in the Taiwan Strait, effectively turning it into an unmanned hellscape to prevent the advancement of troops.
In fact, over the past several years, the Ukraine war has already demonstrated the decisive impact that uncrewed systems can have on warfare. If Taiwan were to face a similar crisis, it would likely be no exception. In terms of the situation across the Taiwan Strait, Taiwan, the US and Japan are all democratic systems that assign the utmost importance to the safety of their citizens’ lives and property. However, the Chinese Communist Party is the opposite. To consolidate one-party rule — or even to secure the authority and historical standing of a single dictator — Beijing, with its massive population, could resort to launching a human wave attack, treating individual lives as expendable. In other words, in a traditional manned battlefield — and confronted with comparable casualties — Beijing would likely possess a higher tolerance for the loss of lives.
However, as battlefields evolve toward greater reliance on uncrewed systems, future conflicts would primarily consume munitions and uncrewed vehicles rather than human lives. This shift could significantly reduce personnel casualties, thereby making decisionmakers in Taipei, Washington and Tokyo more willing to resist and intervene against the actions of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. In this respect, such a development would be a major strategic advantage for the defense of the Taiwan Strait.
Huang Wei-ping works in public service.
Translated by Kyra Gustavsen
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