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South China Morning Post
14-06-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Taiwan war game triggers US questions over island's ‘will to fight' if PLA attacks
high-level civilian war game held in Taipei this week has exposed serious vulnerabilities in Taiwan's defences of its outer perimeter and eastern regions, prompting a retired US admiral to warn that Washington's involvement depended on 'Taiwan's will to fight'. Advertisement In the exercise simulating a 2030 cross-strait conflict, Taiwan lost control of key outlying territories – most notably Penghu, a group of islands 50km (30 miles) east of the main island – as the People's Liberation Army (PLA) launched a multifront assault that quickly outpaced Taiwan's initial response. The two-day simulation, organised by three Taiwanese think tanks led by the Taipei School of Economics and Political Science, is one of the most detailed publicly conducted strategic exercises modelling a full-scale assault by mainland Chinese forces. It reflects mounting concerns among local strategists and retired military leaders that Taiwan's eastern flank and offshore islands remain dangerously exposed amid intensifying PLA threats The result of the war game – whether the PLA seized Taiwan – or when the final outcome will be confirmed has not been made public, but the organisers said they would issue a full report. Advertisement Four teams represented Taiwan, the United States, Japan and mainland China, overseen by a control group. Notable participants included Michael Mullen, a former chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff; Dennis Blair, a former US Pacific commander; and Shigeru Iwasaki, former chief of staff of Japan's Self-Defence Forces. Nine retired Taiwanese generals and admirals, including Lee Hsi-min, former chief of the general staff; and eight lieutenant generals also took part.
South China Morning Post
14-06-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Taiwan war game triggers US questions over its ‘will to fight' if mainland China attacks
high-level civilian war game held in Taipei this week has exposed serious vulnerabilities in Taiwan's defences of its outer perimeter and eastern regions, prompting a retired US admiral to warn that Washington's involvement depended on 'Taiwan's will to fight'. In the exercise simulating a 2030 cross-strait conflict, Taiwan lost control of key outlying territories – most notably Penghu, a group of islands 50km (30 miles) east of the main island – as the People's Liberation Army (PLA) launched a multifront assault that quickly outpaced Taiwan's initial response. The two-day simulation, organised by three Taiwanese think tanks led by the Taipei School of Economics and Political Science, is one of the most detailed publicly conducted strategic exercises modelling a full-scale assault by Chinese mainland forces. It reflects mounting concerns among local strategists and retired military leaders that Taiwan's eastern flank and offshore islands remain dangerously exposed amid intensifying PLA threats and growing US pressure for Taiwan to bolster its own defences. The result of the war game – whether the PLA seized Taiwan – or when the final outcome would be confirmed has not been made public, but the organisers said they would issue a full report. Four teams represented Taiwan, the United States, Japan and mainland China, overseen by a control group. Notable participants included Michael Mullen, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Dennis Blair, a former US Pacific commander; and Shigeru Iwasaki, former chief of staff of Japan's Self-Defence Forces. Nine retired Taiwanese generals and admirals, including Lee Hsi-min, former chief of the general staff; and eight lieutenant generals also took part.
Hindustan Times
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
China heightens military activity around Taiwan
Taiwan's Ministry of Defence said it detected 10 sorties of Chinese aircraft and seven Chinese vessels operating around its territorial waters as of 6am (local time). Of the 10 sorties, eight entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ (Air Defence Identification Zone). In a post on X, Taiwan's MND said, '10 sorties of PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC 8) today. 8 out of 10 sorties entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly.' Earlier on Wednesday, 43 sorties of PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected in the region. In a post on X, MND said, '43 sorties of PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC 8) today. 25 out of 43 sorties entered Taiwan's northern, central and southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly.' Meanwhile, three Taiwanese non-governmental organisations participated in a tabletop exercise on Tuesday that simulated dramatic escalations in Chinese military activity near Taiwan in 2030, including Chinese naval ships invading Taiwan's territorial seas, according to a Focus Taiwan report. Focus Taiwan reported that the two-day exercise, which focused primarily on China's "grey zone" coercive actions that fall short of open conflict, was jointly hosted by the Taipei School of Economics and Political Science Foundation, an educational foundation; the Taipei-based think tank Centre for Peace and Security; and the Council on Strategic and Wargaming Studies (CSWS), a research institute. Several former defence officials attended the event, including former Chief of the General Staff Lee Hsi-min, retired US Navy Admiral Michael Mullen, former US Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair, former Japanese Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff Shigeru Iwasaki, and former Chief of Staff of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Tomohisa Takei, according to a Focus Taiwan report.
NHK
11-06-2025
- Politics
- NHK
Retired Japan, US officers join simulation in Taiwan on possible attack by China
Former Japanese Self-Defense Forces and US military officers have taken part in a simulation to respond to possible attack by China on Taiwan. Private-sector groups in Taiwan organized the event in Taipei on Tuesday and Wednesday. It was attended by former officers from Taiwan and 17 retired officers from Japan and the US. They included retired General Iwasaki Shigeru, former chief of staff of the SDF Joint Staff, and retired Admiral Michael Mullen, former chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. The simulation -- assuming that China were to launch an armed attack on Taiwan in 2030 -- was held behind closed doors. The participants discussed possible moves by China and responses by Taiwan, the US and Japan. At a news conference on Wednesday they said it is important to boost Taiwan's defense capabilities, including employing "asymmetric" defense using cheap, mobile weapons. They also recommended strengthening deterrence against China through cooperation among countries in the Indo-Pacific region. Takei Tomohisa, a senior fellow at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation and a retired admiral in the Maritime Self-Defense Force, said the most important thing for Japan to do is improve its defense capabilities and deterrent power while maintaining lines of communication with Taiwan.
South China Morning Post
10-06-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Civilian group hosts Taiwan tabletop simulation of attack from mainland China
A think tank in Taiwan has started a two-day war game with retired US and Japanese generals to simulate the island's defence in the event of a military attack from the Chinese mainland. The Taipei School of Economics and Political Science Foundation, which organised the tabletop exercise, said the aim was to 'identify the defence issues that Taiwan urgently needs to strengthen and provide recommendations for the government'. Described as the first operational-level military simulation by a civilian institution, the Taiwan Defence TTX event began on Tuesday. Among the invitees were nine retired generals and eight retired lieutenant generals from Taiwan, the US and Japan. They included Michael Mullen, who served as the 17th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2007 to 2011, and Dennis Blair, former US director of national intelligence, according to a report on Sunday by the Central News Agency. Takei Tomohisa, a former chief of staff of Japan's Maritime Self-Defence Force, and retired air force general Shigeru Iwasaki are also taking part in the exercise, the agency report said. The intention of the exercise is to discuss 'the feasibility of Taiwan's military strategy and operational concepts' in response to Beijing's use of force against Taiwan by 2030, it said. The foundation has not responded to an interview request from the South China Morning Post.
