Taiwan’s defense ministry says in its annual report on China’s military capabilities that China continues to prepare for a landing operation in Taiwan.
The ministry presented the report to Taiwan’s parliament on Friday.
The report said military drills that China staged after Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te took office in May were aimed at intimidating Taiwan and eroding the morale of its military and citizens.
It said China sent coast guard vessels in addition to warships as far as to waters off eastern Taiwan in order to check whether they can encircle and enforce a naval blockade.
The report said that at this point, China’s military still lacks the capability to stage a full-scale invasion, due to the natural geographical environment of the Taiwan Strait and insufficient logistics capabilities.
But it expressed caution, stressing that China is developing new military technologies and equipment to prepare for landing operations.
The report also referred to the simultaneous expulsion of two former defense ministers from the Chinese Communist Party for disciplinary violations earlier this year.
It said the move shows China’s military is facing problems, but not serious enough to undermine the power base of Chinese President Xi Jinping.