Taiwan's newly acquired HIMARS and Abrams tanks would raise the costs of a Chinese amphibious landing, a defense analyst says.

Within that framework, a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan has become the scenario most often cited as the likeliest flashpoint for a military confrontation between the two superpowers. In Washington,

Taiwan debuted its new US-supplied M1A2T Abrams tanks in live-fire drills, showcasing advanced capabilities aimed at deterring a Chinese invasion and enhancing US-Taiwan military cooperation.

With Beijing likely to rely on asymmetric capabilities rather than landing soldiers to invade, America can help siege-proof the island democracy.

Taiwan launches its largest ever military drills on Wednesday, starting with simulated attacks on its command systems and infrastructure ahead of a Chinese invasion, senior defence officials said. The early stages of the annual Han Kuang exercises will focus on testing how Taiwan’s military can decentralise command in the event of a crippling communications attack.

Gen. Ronald Clark, the commander of U.S. Army Pacific, said a recent symposium that the chances are slim that Chinese forces could successfully mount a strait crossing on the scale needed to invade Taiwan.

Australia must prepare. China attacking Taiwan is not inevitable, but if it happens, it will become a wide-ranging Indo-Pacific conflict.

Beijing has declared Taiwan as an "inalienable" part of China, whereas Taipei has long asserted its independence.

DRAMATIC footage captures a fleet of Chinese tank boats charging through the sea in tight formation during military drills near Taiwan. The show of force by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA)