Taipei: Taiwan’s growing preparations for a possible attack from China should not be seen as a provocation, a senior Taiwanese official has said, as the island strengthens both military readiness and civilian defence measures amid increasing pressure from Beijing.
Lin Fei fan, a senior official in Taiwan’s National Security Council, said the island had a responsibility to prepare for possible threats to its security. He stressed that Taiwan’s actions were defensive and aimed at protecting its people, democratic system and way of life.
The comments come at a time when China has increased military activities around Taiwan. Chinese military aircraft and naval vessels regularly operate close to the island, while large scale military exercises have raised concerns about how quickly a training operation could turn into a real crisis.
Taiwan has been expanding its preparations because officials believe the warning time before a possible Chinese military operation could become shorter. Defence Minister Wellington Koo has previously warned that Taiwan must be ready for different situations, including the possibility that China could suddenly change a military exercise into an actual operation.
In recent weeks, Taiwan has carried out a series of military and civilian preparedness exercises. The aim has been to test how quickly the island can respond to different types of emergencies and whether government departments, the military and civilian organisations can work together during a major crisis.
One large preparedness exercise involved hundreds of government and military officials. The scenarios included a possible Chinese blockade, cyberattacks, sabotage, misinformation campaigns, a major natural disaster and a full military invasion.
The exercises were designed to test more than traditional military strength. Taiwan is also working to improve emergency communications, protect important infrastructure, maintain food and energy supplies, strengthen medical services and ensure that government institutions can continue working during a crisis.
Officials in Taipei say this wider approach is important because a future conflict may not begin with a traditional military attack. It could involve cyberattacks on communication systems, attempts to spread false information, damage to infrastructure or efforts to isolate the island through a naval and air blockade.
Taiwan has also been closely monitoring Chinese naval activity in the region. Recent movements of Chinese naval forces in the western Pacific have added to concerns about Beijing’s growing ability to operate farther from its coastline.
Taiwanese officials are also studying military cooperation between China and Russia. They are watching for changes in military tactics and trying to understand how different forms of pressure could be used together during a future crisis.
China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its control. Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s claim and says the island’s future must be decided by its people.
The dispute has made the Taiwan Strait one of the most closely watched security areas in the world. Any serious military confrontation could have wider consequences for regional security, international trade and the global economy.
Taiwan is especially important to the global technology industry because of its major role in semiconductor manufacturing. A conflict or blockade affecting the island could disrupt international supply chains and create economic problems far beyond East Asia.
Taiwan’s government has increasingly promoted what it describes as a whole of society approach to defence. This means preparing not only soldiers but also government agencies, local authorities, emergency services, businesses and ordinary citizens for possible emergencies.
The island has been working to improve reserve mobilisation and civil defence training. Officials are also focusing on disaster response and the ability of communities to continue functioning if communication networks, transport systems or public services are disrupted.
For Taiwan, the goal is to convince China that any attempt to attack, blockade or pressure the island would face strong resistance and serious uncertainty. Taiwanese officials argue that better preparation can reduce the possibility of conflict by making military action more difficult and costly.
Lin’s comments reflect Taipei’s effort to explain that these preparations are intended to preserve peace rather than increase tensions. Taiwan’s leaders say ignoring the growing military pressure from China would leave the island vulnerable.
At the same time, the situation remains sensitive. China regularly criticises military cooperation between Taiwan and other countries, particularly the United States, and has accused Taiwan’s government of increasing tensions.
Taipei, however, says the pressure comes from Beijing’s expanding military activities and that strengthening defence is a necessary response.
As military activity continues around the island, Taiwan is expected to keep expanding its defence exercises, civilian preparedness programmes and emergency response plans. The message from Taipei is that preparation is not an attempt to provoke conflict, but an effort to prevent one by showing that Taiwan is ready to defend itself if necessary.