China's Special-Operations Forces Are The Real Threat To Taiwan

Chinese Air Force special-operations troops during a drill, March 3, 2015. Xinhua/Huang Hui 

Business Insider: Stop counting warships. China's special-operations forces are Taiwan's real problem 

* China's military expansion, especially of its naval fleet, has received worldwide attention. 

* As impressive as those ships are, China's leaders may not rely on them to recapture Taiwan. 

* Lyle Goldstein is director of Asia Engagement at Defense Priorities and a former research professor at the US Naval War College. 

In December, two Chinese carrier battle groups went to sea simultaneously for the first time. They did so only weeks after the Chinese Navy's newest large helicopter carrier began its sea trials. 

These are major milestones for the PLA Navy, which is clearly advancing quickly in all respects. Yet they may be a red herring when it comes to the "the most dangerous place on the planet," as the Economist accurately described the Taiwan situation last year. 

Indeed, China does not require large and advanced warships to attack the island. This is quite easily grasped if one simply looks at a map and sees that the medium-sized island is less than 100 miles off of China's coast. 

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WNU Editor: A good summary on what China can use in a military invasion of Taiwan.