Taiwan is studying Ukraine's experience and preparing to repel China's invasion - Fox News
Date: 2024-06-05 Author: Кирило Загоруйко Categories: WORLD
Ukraine's existential struggle against Russian encroachment is inspiring Taiwan and giving the island nation hope that it can also withstand a possible Chinese invasion. Taiwan is not just observing the resistance of the Ukrainians, but is also drawing conclusions for itself, writes Fox News.
"Nowhere does Ukraine's struggle resonate as deeply as on the shores of Taiwan. The people of Taiwan see themselves in the struggle of an Eastern European nation - a comparison made even starker by the growing alliance between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin," the publication said. .
The Ukrainians inspired the Taiwanese to make certain changes in both military and social policies, in particular, the island developed a roadmap for using US support. In particular, Taiwan increased defense spending to more than 2% of GDP and increased the length of conscript service from 4 to 12 months.
Until recently, Taiwan's military had largely focused on the purely military aspects of preparing to repel a Chinese amphibious invasion, but the war in Ukraine has prompted consideration of a broader range of responses. In particular, Taiwan understood the importance of maintaining national unity in times of war and the need to constantly prove to allies abroad that their support mattered.
However, the political infighting in the US Congress, due to which Ukraine was unable to receive critically needed assistance for a long time, greatly alarmed Taiwan.
"Regardless of whether this is good or bad for Ukraine, the fact is that Ukraine can have multiple sources of weapons and supplies - not only from the United States, but also from European countries. But we can only have one from the United States," he said President of the Taiwanese think tank The Prospect Foundation, Dr. Yi-Chung Lai.
