The United States is planning a strategy known as "Hellscape" to deter China from trying to invade Taiwan, according to the new head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
Knewz.com has learned that China's latest behavior suggests it is preparing for an all-out war over the island democracy.
With tensions rising in the South China Sea, as rumors suggest President Xi Jinping might make a move on Taiwan in the next couple of years, it seems the U.S. is preparing for a time when push comes to shove.
Although U.S. President Joe Biden has repeatedly stated that he would send American forces to defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion, his recent remarks reflect the long-standing U.S. policy of "strategic ambiguity" regarding the matter.
In a recent interview with TIME, President Biden said that the deployment of U.S. military to defend Taiwan against China "would depend on the circumstances."
"I've made clear to Xi Jinping that we agree with... the policy of, that, it is we are not seeking independence for Taiwan nor will we, in fact, not defend Taiwan if they if, if China unilaterally tries to change the status."
"And so we're continuing to supply capacity. And, and we've been in consultation with our allies in the region," he added.
Since the deployment of troops in the region does not seem like a viable option, the U.S. is devising a strategy called "Hellscape" that utilizes unmanned war elements to try and deter China from being able to mount a successful invasion in Taiwan.
The current head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Samuel Paparo, told The Washington Post in an interview that China wants "to offer the world a short, sharp war so that it is a fait accompli before the world can get their act together."
"My job is to ensure that between now and 2027 and beyond, the U.S. military and the allies are capable of prevailing."
Paparo further explained in his interview that President Jinping's strategy regarding Taiwan is most likely to launch a massive strike with little to no warning and overwhelm the island state.
However, the American strategy is to turn the Taiwan Strait into an "unmanned hellscape using a number of classified capabilities" that can hold off Chinese forces until Taiwanese, U.S., and partner forces can prepare an effective offensive.
"I can make their lives utterly miserable for a month, which buys me the time for the rest of everything... I can’t tell you what’s in it. But it’s real and it’s deliverable," Paparo told The Washington Post.
The outlet reported that the "hellscape" would likely comprise of "thousands of unmanned submarines, unmanned surface ships, and aerial drones."
It is worth noting that China has recently shown a trend of stockpiling resources and commodities at a massive scale, possibly hinting at an upcoming battle over Taiwan. Knewz.com previously reported that April 2024 was the 18th consecutive month that saw the People's Bank of China increase its gold demands.
China has been notably stocking up on gold and oil over the last year. The nation is already the world's largest consumer of both commodities, with China's official gold holdings now standing at 2,264 tons, making up 4.9 % of its total foreign exchange reserves. According to FXStreet, this is the highest percentage on record.
Furthermore, U.S. military officials have said that Jinping has reportedly set a deadline for potentially making a major play for Taiwan. Former U.S. Indo-Pacific Command chief Admiral John Aquilino told reporters in April during a visit to Japan that "China is working toward being able to take Taiwan by 2027," per a previous report from Newsweek.