The Aerospace Advantage Pacific Threat Update: Taiwan Assessment — Ep. 274
Jan 24, 2026
J. Michael "JDAM" Dahm, Senior Fellow and China-Taiwan security specialist and lecturer, shares fresh observations from a Taiwan trip. He covers PLA rapid-response postures and airspace closures. He describes Taiwan’s terrain, amphibious-landing challenges, civil defense efforts, generational politics, and the island’s emphasis on unmanned swarm systems over traditional platforms.
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1949 Defense Of Jinmen
- JDAM recounted the 1949 Battle of Guningtou where nationalist forces repelled a PLA amphibious assault on Jinmen.
- Mistimed tides trapped PLA boats on the beach and the nationalists destroyed them, humiliating Mao's forces.
Historical Resilience Under Bombardment
- Jinmen endured a 44-day artillery bombardment in 1958 and intermittent shelling for decades afterward.
- Past resilience shows populations may not break under prolonged bombardment as expected.
Cross-Strait Ties Complicate Unity
- Jinmen maintains close family and economic ties with mainland China, including a ferry to Xiamen and shared holidays.
- Beijing already sets administrative claims and is building an airport extension that blurs separation.
