An invasion of Taiwan by China could leave the world on the brink of World War 3, a military expert has warned. Former intelligence officer Philip Ingram explained how Taiwan is preparing to defend itself using its so-called ‘porcupine strategy’, while warning war between the two Asian nations could “ignite an even greater conflict” than that seen in Ukraine, where he described “the world’s attention is fixed”.
China has the largest military in the world, and US intelligence has previously suggested Xi Jinping has ordered his forces to be ready for a possible invasion of Taiwan as soon as 2027. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, viewing the self-ruled island nation as a breakaway province, and has not ruled out seizing it by force. Beijing has been rapidly advancing its military capabilities in recent years, with Russia allegedly also supplying the country with weaponry.
Mr Ingram, a military intelligence expert, said Beijing views Taiwan as “destiny”, while for the US “it’s a red line”.
In the latest episode of The Sun’s Battle Plans Exposed, Mr Ingram detailed how Taiwan — which is around 100 miles off China’s south-east coast — would use its porcupine strategy to defend itself.
He said the strategy, also known as asymmetric defence, does not aim to defeat China in a traditional war but “to make an invasion so difficult, so costly and so bloody that Beijing is deterred from ever attempting it”.
In the event of an invasion by China, Mr Ingram explained Taiwan’s air force would be the first line of defence and contest air superiority over the Taiwan Strait amid missile barrages.
Taiwan’s navy would then step in to try to prevent a naval blockade and lay sea mines to make “invasion routes treacherous”, the expert said.
Completing the porcupine defence, representing the animals’ sharp quills, are missile strike capabilities which aim to strike Chinese forces and push them back, per The Sun.
Mr Ingram told the newspaper’s Battle Plans Exposed: “This is the heart of Taiwan’s deterrent. The strategy relies on a massive arsenal of precise, mobile and hard to detect missiles.”
Taiwan is also working on enhancing the readiness of its forces and beefing up troop numbers through the extension of conscription.
China has the world’s biggest military and is believed to have more than two million active duty personnel.
Last month, the Royal United Services Institute, a defence and security think tank, said analysis of leaked Russian documents showed Moscow is selling military equipment and technology to China that could help Beijing prepare an airborne invasion of Taiwan.
