About That Deficient Air and Sea Lift

Skeptics of China's ability to mount an invasion of Taiwan often focus on China's lack of dedicated amphibious assets and airlift. I don't know why we believe the only way to mount an amphibious and airborne invasion is with our full array of assets. I think it can be done, as many have done it before, with far less in the way of equipment. It is riskier, requires surprise, and will likely result in higher casualties for the PLA, but it can be done.

I think we are witnessing a quantum leap in the PLA's invasion capabilities under the guise of warming relations. China and Taiwan have begun direct sea and air links on Monday:

The first Taiwanese ships, from Evergreen and Yang Ming Marine, are scheduled to leave from the island's Kaohsiung and Keelung harbors for Chinese ports about noon Monday. Ships with mainland companies, China Shipping and China Ocean Shipping, are to sail vessels to Taiwan from Shanghai and Tianjin, respectively.

Also Monday up to 60 cargo flights per month will start to fly between Taiwan and the mainland, according to agreements signed on Nov. 4.

Daily passenger flights will also start, with 16 scheduled Monday, in an expansion of weekend charter services inaugurated in July.

These ships and aircraft can be the first wave of an amphibious and airborne assault on Taiwan.

I was wrong on the timing (Russia got the Olympics time slot for their invasion of Georgia), but China is getting ready, they're getting set, and one day they will go for Taiwan.