China has already targeted Penghu Island. Did they not know about Tungyin? I don’t see how that is possible considering how close Tungyin is to China.
The Pescadores (Fisherman's Isles), which the Chinese call Penghu, comprise 64 islands west of Taiwan (China, PR) with a total area of 127 sq km (49 sq miles).
The Tungyin facility appears aimed at restricting Chinese naval and air mobility at the northern end of the Taiwan Strait. A second facility on Penghu Island with the same missiles guards southern approaches to the waterway.
The Russian sub deal was to go through the U.S. as a sort of broker. Russia did not want to sell directly to Taiwan as if no one would be the wiser.
I agree with you about the limit, maybe that is just for fishing. vbg
I am not sure where Russia stands and that is Putin's intent.
-Am
China aims at isles off Taiwan for first time
JULY 23, 2004
In its current exercise, the PLA has made the Penghu chain its target, suggesting a change in strategy for any showdown with Taiwan
By Ching Cheong
HONG KONG - The Chinese military is using its current exercise off the Fujian coast to test its ability to capture the Penghu archipelago not far from Taiwan, according to sources.
This is the first time the chain of about 64 islands lying east of the imaginary midway line between Taiwan and the mainland is made the target since the annual Dongshan drill started in 1996.
In all previous exercises, the emphasis was on crossing the 130km-wide Taiwan Strait and landing on Taiwan itself, bypassing Penghu. The change suggests that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) is adopting a cautious, step-by-step approach in its preparations for any eventual showdown with Taiwan.
Codenamed 'Liberation Number Two', the current exercise is commanded directly by Chief of General Staff General Liang Guanglie, an expert on landing and amphibious warfare.
Given that the archipelago is just 24 nautical miles from the west coast of Taiwan, it is a natural platform for PLA troops to launch a direct assault on the main island itself - as well as seize control of airspace and sea lanes in the Taiwan Strait.
If the PLA succeeds in gaining a foothold there, Taiwan's air force and navy will, effectively, be relegated to no more than a coastguard force. Such a foothold will also prove indispensable to the PLA if American forces should intervene, sources in Beijing say.
Historically, the Penghu archipelago had served as a stepping stone for military operations from the mainland against Taiwan. The Ming and Qing dynasty expeditions in 1644 and 1683, both to reclaim control over Taiwan, used Penghu as a midway stop.
But some voices within the PLA once argued that in modern times, the island chain had lost its military significance because China could launch an attack directly with its medium-range missiles.
They favoured a lightning operation to capture Taiwan, bypassing Penghu lest taking it gave Taipei ample response time.
However, during the 'Liberation Number One' drill in 2001 on Dongshan island, the PLA found that it would suffer huge losses if it failed to control Penghu, and with it, the airspace and sea lanes in the Taiwan Strait. All the more so if the United States intervened.
Since then, a key objective in the annual exercise has been to deter US intervention by developing skills in hitting aircraft carrier battle groups, cruise missiles, stealth fighters and armed helicopters, all of which pose the greatest obstacle to China's bid to control the airspace.
According to a source, once Taiwan makes any major lurch towards separatism, the PLA will take Penghu in one or two days, deploying about 30,000 soldiers, and turn it into a staging post against Taiwan.
Taiwan too attaches great significance to Penghu, which is its next-tier defence against China after Kinmen and Matsu islands right off the Fujian coast. It is, in fact, the real first line of defence because Kinmen and Matsu are too close to China and within range of land-based artillery fire.
Currently, Taiwan's Penghu Defence Command (PDC) comprises two infantry brigades, an armour brigade and an artillery command with a total force size of about 8,000 troops. It is equipped with the best tanks in Taiwan.
The PDC is also the home port of Taiwan's Fleet 146, a flotilla of frigates. There is also an air force squadron there. Its commander, General Wang Han-chi, is known to be a confidant of Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian.
The PLA's designs on Penghu are taken very seriously by the PDC, which last week conducted an exercise aimed at thwarting any surprise attack.
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