China has never been coy about its ambitions. For decades, Beijing has proclaimed that Taiwan is not a sovereign nation, but a "renegade province" destined to return to the mainland's control. That claim has often seemed rhetorical, meant more for domestic audiences than immediate military action. But recent developments suggest otherwise: China is not only talking about Taiwan, it is preparing--methodically, systematically, and aggressively--to seize it, possibly as early as 2027.
U.S. military leaders have repeatedly warned that by 2027 the People's Liberation Army (PLA) could be fully capable of invading Taiwan. Now, the evidence is mounting. From missile deployments and naval expansion to joint training with Russia and the development of cutting-edge weapons like satellite killers and drone swarms, China's moves over the past few months reveal a nation actively gearing for war.
For China, confrontation with Taiwan has become a laboratory of preparation. A concept known as nadi lianbing--"using the enemy to train the troops"--guides PLA behavior in the Taiwan Strait. That means every air incursion, every naval maneuver, every median-line crossing is not merely a provocation, but an exercise in real-time combat training. (Read more)
