MND warns of losses in event of attack

This article was published by the Taiwan Headlines on March 30, 2006. It reports that according to officials from the Ministry of National Defense, more than 20,000 men and women in uniform would be killed or wounded within half a day in the event of a Chinese ballistic missile attack. Meanwhile, military casualties are likely to reach 42,000 in the first two weeks of combat.

This estimation was made during a recent military drill. It was based on the scenario that the Chinese People's Liberation Army would fire ballistic missiles at Taiwan in five consecutive waves, which would take about half a day. In this scenario, between 20,000 and 30,000 armed forces personnel would be killed or wounded.

Currently, the number of Chinese missiles deployed against Taiwan is estimated at about 820, including cruise missiles. If a recent Chinese military news report is to be believed, then the Chinese People's Liberation Army's latest strategy is to launch a "beheading" mission that would result in the capture of the Taiwanese army's commander-in-chief and the nation's leadership. In response to such a strategy, the Ministry of National Defense estimated that some 400,000 troops would have to be mobilized in Taiwan.