The U.S. Department of Defense's report said China's PLA has set an objective of modernizing its warfare capability by 2027 so that it will be capable of unifying Taiwan by force.
The cross-Strait situation remains grim. The U.S. Department of Defense recently released its annual report on China's military and security developments. According to the report, the People's Liberation Army has set a goal of modernizing its warfare capability by 2027 so that it will be capable of unifying Taiwan by force. It is also accelerating the modernization, diversification, and expansion of its nuclear forces. The U.S. believes that if China continues the pace of its nuclear expansion, it will have a stockpile of 1,500 warheads by 2035.
Pat Ryder, Press Secretary, US Pentagon: “This congressionally mandated report serves as an authoritative assessment of DoD's pacing challenge and charts the current course of the PRC's military and security strategy. The report plays a vital role in informing our understanding of our pacing challenge.”
China has repeatedly conducted island attack drills. The report speculated China may use four types of military courses of action against Taiwan, which are an air and maritime blockade, limited force or coercive options, air and missile campaign, and invasion. In particular, the "Joint Island Landing Campaign" envisions a complex operation relying on coordinated, interlocking campaigns for EW, logistics, air, and naval support. The objectives are to break through or circumvent shore defenses, establish a beachhead, build up combat power along Taiwan's western coastline, and seize key targets or the entire island.
William Tseng, Legislator (KMT): “The KMT caucus supports the Ministry of National Defense's related expenditures and budgets to strengthen our military capability.”
Chao Tien-lin, Legislator (DPP): “There are various plans and possibilities related to an attack on Taiwan, but they mean that U.S. arms sales to Taiwan will become more precise and they will be delivered on schedule so that Taiwan can defend itself.”
Legislators expressed support for helping the military to prepare for the worst case scenario. In August, China practiced an air and maritime blockade and missile campaign and succeeded in blockading Taiwan. Scholars said Taiwan also needs to be alert for electronic warfare's "soft kills."
Wang Kun-yi, Chairperson, Taiwan Int'l Strategic Study Society: “How can we counter the first and most important missile attack? Our Patriot missiles are probably capable of a counterattack.”
Military power is not the only element in modern warfare. Scholars believe China is using different methods to isolate Taiwan and undermine morale. They say Taiwan needs to start training a civilian army and instill the determination for resistance from an early age.
兩岸情勢嚴峻，中共加大對台軍事威脅。美國國防部發布最新中國軍力報告，指出中共目標2027年達成建軍目標，具備武統台灣的能力，同時也擴大核武庫存。美方研判，中共2035年恐擁有1500枚核彈頭，影響區域安全穩定。
美國五角大廈新聞秘書帕特萊德說明：「這份國會授權的報告是對國防部步調挑戰的權威評估，並描繪了中國軍事和安全戰略的當前進程。該報告在讓我們了解，我們面臨的步調挑戰方面發揮著至關重要的作用。」
中共頻繁演練奪島演習，報告還列舉可能對台發動4項軍事行動，包括海空封鎖、飛彈空襲、有限度武力行動以及入侵台灣，尤其聚焦「聯合登島作戰」，共軍結合電子戰、後勤、空中與海上支援，藉此突破或繞開台灣海岸防禦，搶灘後建立灘頭陣地，進而奪取關鍵目標甚至拿下台灣。
國民黨立委曾銘宗表示：「我們國民黨團也支持國防部相關，強化軍力相關經費跟預算。」
民進黨立委趙天麟指出：「各種攻台的這樣一個計劃跟可能性，但是這樣也增加了美國對台軍售的精準度，可以如期如質的交付台灣擁有自我防衛能力的武器。」
朝野立委共同關切此事，就台海緊張情勢協助國防部最壞的打算和最好的準備。值得注意的是，中共8月圍台軍演就是在演練海空封鎖、飛彈空襲，藉此封鎖台灣的海上與空中交通，切斷進出口運補。學者示警，也要防範電子戰的「軟殺」威脅。
台灣國際戰略學會理事長王崑義回應：「我們怎麼樣去防堵整個最重要，就第一波的飛彈攻擊這方面來講的話，我們愛國者飛彈大概應該還是可以有足夠的能力，來做一個反擊的能力。」
現代戰爭走向多元化，不單只是仰賴軍力，學者認為中共現階段透過頻繁擾台，結合網路攻擊孤立台灣、打擊民心士氣，因此全民國防不能淪為口號，而是向下扎根，從小培養抵抗決心。