Leaked documents show China could quickly establish air superiority over Taiwan during an invasion

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Recently leaked classified US intelligence documents show that China is expected to quickly establish air superiority over Taiwan in any future Chinese invasion of the small island nation, the Guardian UK reports. The documents were found to have been among those leaked by US air national guardsman Jack Teixeira, who has since been arrested and taken into custody by the FBI.

The documents show that Taiwan’s military leaders suspect their air defense capability may not be up to the task of accurately detecting missiles launched by China during an invasion, the Guardian reports. Taiwan has been on alert against an invasion by China, which considers the independent, self-ruled Taiwanese island to be part of its territory.

The leaked classified documents show that around half of Taiwan’s military aircraft are unfit to fight Chinese planes, the Guardian reports. Taiwanese military leaders are also concerned that moving their aircraft into shelters could take up to a week, thus exposing them to potential missile strikes.

Moreover, the documents show that US’s ability to determine when China might invade Taiwan has been disrupted by the Chinese government’s use of civilian ships for military purposes, the Guardian said.

According to the documents, US Defense Ministry analysts have concluded that China could establish air superiority over Taiwan more quickly and easily than Russia could over Ukraine, the Guardian reports. China’s air force would find it far easier to establish early air superiority than Russia did in its invasion of Ukraine, the documents show US defense analysts believe.

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