US Official: US to Deploy Drone 'Hellscape' if PRC Were to Invade Taiwan

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Jun 11, 2024

Above: A Taiwan Min Jiang-class minelayer drops a training mine in the ocean during a military drill on January 31, 2024 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Image copyright: Annabelle Chih/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Imagesstory last updated Jun 11

The Facts

The commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command has warned that if the PRC invades Taiwan, the US will use a large, lethal drone force to create a "Hellscape" and buy time to respond.
In an opinion piece published in The Washington Post on Monday, Admiral Samuel Paparo said the strategy to deter China includes deploying thousands of unmanned systems, including submarines and drones.

The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

When Russia invaded Ukraine, Kyiv used drones as lethal weapons to acquire intelligence and strike its targets with incredible accuracy. It faced challenges with Chinese drones, prompting a shift to the more secure and capable American options. The US must invest heavily in drone manufacturing and unmanned platforms to support its allies, ensuring military superiority in a rules-based order.

C4ISRNet

Establishment-critical narrative

Washington must resist meddling in the Taiwan Strait and immediately stop sending wrong signals to the pro-independence forces on the island. The US must focus on solving its domestic problems first before extending support to Taiwan's separatist leaders, which will only bring inconceivable suffering to the Taiwanese people. Washington simply needs to abide by its agreed-upon one-China policy.

Chinadaily

Technoskeptic narrative

The US and Chinese militaries are ushering in AI-driven drone swarms that overwhelm adversaries. These swarms could revolutionize warfare and trigger a dangerous arms race. Despite calls for cooperation, fierce competition persists between the two nations. All this deeply echoes all the fears of the Cold War with 21st century technology.