Why Taiwan may be a key factor in China’s military modernisation plan
- A target for the PLA to become a fully modern force means it will have to match the US, which is seen as a key barrier to operations targeting the island
- Military sources say the navy will need at least 3 operational carrier groups by then to deter American intervention
China’s plan to transform its military by 2027 means it will have to catch up with the United States in Pacific, which it sees as one of the biggest barriers to reunifying Taiwan, according to military sources and analysts.
The target was included in a communique issued after a key policy meeting ended in Beijing on Thursday and this was the first time that the modernisation plan – designed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the People’s Liberation Army – was made public.
It calls for the PLA to become a real combat-ready force with counter strategic capabilities to defend China’s national sovereignty, security and developing interests at home and overseas.
Beijing regards Taiwan as a breakaway province that must eventually be reunited with the mainland – by force if necessary – and this remains a key goal for the Communist Party.
However, the threat of US intervention remains a deterrent to any attempts to use military force to bring the island to the negotiating table or even mount a full-scale invasion.
A PLA source familiar with the matter said the modernisation plan had been developed by the Central Military Commission’s political affairs department and had recently been added to the party’s goals for 2049, the centenary of the People’s Republic.