Chinese president Xi Jinping remains resolute about launching a cross strait invasion of Taiwan by the decade of the 2020s, a date Taiwan has long been cognizant of and is feverishly preparing for.

According to western media, sources within the Chinese government are saying Xi is "losing patience" over Taiwan's refusal to abandon its bid for independence from China, and is eager to launch an invasion in the next 10 years.

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More specifically, Xi is said to want the invasion to occur before July 2021, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC). There one huge problem, however.

The People's Liberation Army (PLA), however, hasn't the equipment, technology, resources and the nerve to launch an invasion of Taiwan that will likely trigger World War III -- and end communist control of China.  

One western expert on the PLA isn't ready for a war against the far more powerful United States Armed Forces. For an invasion of Taiwan to succeed, China needs far more helicopters, paratroopers, special forces troops, amphibious mechanized divisions and marines than it now has.

The massive numbers of men in the People's Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF) -- some 1.6 million men making it the largest ground army in the world -- will count for nothing in an amphibious invasion since China doesn't have enough ships in the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) to transport even one PLAGF Group Army across the Taiwan Strait in one lift.

In mid-2015, China took the extraordinary step of ordering Chinese shipbuilders to ensure new civilian ships can be operated by the PLAN.

This order will require changes to the way certain types of civilian ships are built to make them suitable for military service. The ships that will meet the new requirements will be vital in providing the PLA with a substantial sealift capability.

PLAN currently has a very limited amphibious capability and its ability to move men and material is restricted due to a lack of suitable transport ships. These new guidelines seek to solve this problem.

TagsXi Jinping, Taiwan, Communist Party of China, People's Liberation Army, People's Liberation Army Ground Force, People's Liberation Army Navy