June 12, 2025: China has developed new tactics for conquering Taiwan using their S-300 anti-aircraft missile batteries. This would be done by using paratroopers and amphibious forces to systematically occupy the small islands between Taiwan and the Chinese mainland. About 160 kilometers separates Taiwan from China. Taiwan occupies islands as close as Kinmen/Quemoy island which is ten kilometers from the Chinese coast. Then come the 60 Penghu Islands that are 50 kilometers off the Taiwanese coast and 100 kilometers from the Chinese mainland.

The Chinese plan would involve moving enough combat aircraft to airbases on the coast opposite Taiwan. The paratroopers would operate from these bases. Coastal ports would hold the amphibious ships. As each Taiwanese island was taken, S-300 air defense batteries would be flown in to protect the island from Taiwanese aircraft or missile attack. The key operation would be seizing enough of the 60 Penghu Islands to hold more S-300 batteries and enough soldiers to guard them. Once on the Penghu’s, the S-300 batteries would dominate the skies over most of Taiwan. That would provide a protective umbrella for the airborne and amphibious forces that would land on Taiwan and fight for control of the island.

Taiwanese allies, especially the United States, plan to blockade China. The Chinese have a plan to deal with that which includes long range ballistic missiles that can hit American aircraft carriers and their escort vessels. The U.S. Navy has a plan to deal with that. We won’t know if that will work until it is tried.

In short, it requires the successful use of many untried tactics and weapons systems for China to seize and hold Taiwan. China says they are willing to take the risks but historically Chinese governments have always sought alternatives to risky new enterprises.

This Russian designed S-300 system has been used since 1978 and continually updated. China has been using S-300 since 1993 and eventually developed versions of its own. The current Chinese version has a range of 262 kilometers. Each battery contains an acquisition radar to detect aircraft and an engagement radar to track the targets and guide missiles to them. Up to six launcher vehicles, each carrying and launching two S-300 missiles. Each battery contains about a hundred personnel. Total equipment cost is nearly $200 million.