Beijing, Sep 12 (EFE).- Taiwan\u2019s army on Tuesday published its first national defense report since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in which it said that it was learning from the war in Europe and strengthening its asymmetric warfare capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beijing is deploying hybrid warfare to target Taiwan through military coercion and “non-traditional” threats, such as “cyber and cognitive” attacks, the report noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe recent Russia-Ukraine war has taught us: (1) A totalitarian regime can ignore international rules and kick off invasion for the sake of its own national interests or political assertions,\u201d the report said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The island\u2019s forces \u201chave been following a military strategic thinking of \u2018resolute defense and multi-domain deterrence\u2019\u201d as they continue to strengthen their asymmetric warfare capabilities, it added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following Ukraine’s lead, Taiwan\u2019s armed forces are also \u201cstrengthening their overall defense capabilities\u201d by reforming its reservist system and publishing an \u201call-out defense handbook,\u201d according to the report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last month, the island\u2019s government proposed increasing defense spending by 3.5 percent to TWD 606.8 billion ($19 billion) in 2024 – its highest ever -, equivalent to around 2.5 percent of its GDP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In March, amid escalating tensions with China, Taiwan extended mandatory military service from four months to one year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
China claims sovereignty over Taiwan, a territory it considers a “rebel province” since Chinese Nationalist Party (Kuomintang) forces withdrew there in 1949 after losing the civil war with the Communists. EFE <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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