The Chinese Communist Party’s Plan A to Take Taiwan

Recent moves by the Chinese government suggest that Beijing is preparing for a war over Taiwan. China’s newly enacted Law on Reservists delays the retirement age for reserve officers to 60 from 55. Since March 1, local Defense Mobilization Offices have been established in at least 10 provinces to help the government shift to a wartime footing. At the 20th National Congress of the Party last year, the Central Politburo elevated five provincial party secretaries with experience in the defense industry.

That doesn’t necessarily mean a military invasion is imminent. It would be the Chinese Communist Party’s Plan B. The more likely scenario is a less costly takeover of Taiwan through a time-tested party strategy called the united front. An indication of the united front’s ascendancy is the election this month of Wang Huning, deputy head of the Central Leading Group on Taiwan, as chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference—the government body in Beijing that leads the united front.