The People's Liberation Army has achieved breakthroughs for China's laser weapon technology. (Photo : REUTERS)
As 2016 approaches, wherein Taiwan will be holding a presidential election, China heightens its efforts to make more replicas of Taiwan targets that will be used for simulated attacks.
The physical mock-ups, which the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has been making since 2014, reflect Beijing's "preparations for a military struggle" with Taiwan, a Chinese military expert revealed on Friday.
Andrei Chang, also known as Pinkov who founded the Canada-based Kanwa Defense Review, stated that China has been increasing its preparations because the government of its capital city is concerned about the "potentially drastic changes in Taiwan's political situation" that may arise after the presidential election.
Compared with the incumbent Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou, Taiwan's opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chair and a front-runner in the presidential bid Tsai Ing-wen is expected to be in a less conciliatory position toward China.
In a Chinese state-run TV program earlier this week, a building akin to Taiwan's Presidential Office was shown to be stormed by PLA troops in a military exercise. This has led some experts to believe that such drills are being staged on the premise of "resolving the Taiwan issue with force."
Meanwhile, the footage as well as media reports have pushed the government of Taiwan to put forward its "serious protest" to China
Pinkov also stated that, apart from the Presidential Office, surrounding buildings and roads were also replicated, including two parking lots and an edifice similar to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Chinese military expert furthermore noted that the mock-ups were greatly detailed, adding that the work to establish such replicas is still ongoing.
