Retired Admiral Lee Hsi-min believes that if Taiwan spends its defence budget wisely, it can defeat China’s military.
On Thursday, the island nation made the highest-ever defence budget proposal: $19 billion for 2023.
Since tensions have risen as a result of Nancy Pelosi’s visit, Taiwan is preparing for a potential Chinese invasion.
Hsi-min advised Taipei in an analysis to build a formidable arsenal that is both cost-effective and survivable.
The ex-chief of the general staff of Taiwan’s armed forces stressed that conventional weapons like tanks, submarines, and aircraft have high opportunity costs.
“If you spend your money on these big weapons, you don’t have resources for smaller ones”, Indian news agency ANI quoted him saying.
“Taiwan should acquire a lot of small, mobile and inexpensive weapons, which could outlast initial assaults, especially by Chinese long-range missiles or fighter jets.”
Hsi-min noted that with these, Chinese forces would have to attempt to get nearer to Taiwan, which makes them more vulnerable.
In reference to Ukraine’s considerable success against Russian invaders, he said an all-volunteer Taiwanese defence force would raise the cost and uncertainty of a Chinese incursion.
Currently, a senior fellow at the Project 2049 Institute, a think-tank in Washington, DC, Hsi-min served in Taiwan’s navy for four decades and led the military between 2017 and 2019.