"We cannot possibly engage in an arms race with China. We won't buy an aircraft carrier just because China is developing one. We have limited national resources, and we have to make the best uses of them," he said.
"We have to maintain a small but elite, small but strong force to defend ourselves, to efficiently deter threats and increase the cost the mainland would have to pay for invading Taiwan."
The first comment is idiotic. Of course Taiwan doesn't need to build carriers. But Taiwan does need to hold out long enough for our already-built carriers to fight their way to Taiwan to help defend them.
The second comment makes the first look like Clausewitz was reborn in his person (or Sun Tsu, if you prefer). Defending Taiwan has to mean more than just increasing the cost China would have to pay for invading Taiwan.
The danger is that China will decide that the price is worth it--and then conquer Taiwan.
The role of the Taiwanese military is to win--to defeat China. That may just mean holding off long enough for help to arrive, but it still means victory. It means fighting for every inch of Taiwan.
Can you imagine the effect on Taiwanese military morale if they start a fight knowing that their efforts and deaths only mean that they can increase the cost China must pay to win?
UPDATE: Sorry to have such an exasperating post, Minerva. But thanks for the link.
