Taiwan is said to be preparing to unleash a unique military tactic to protect itself against the threat of a Chinese invasion.
The Taiwanese "porcupine strategy" is carefully designed to warn off Xi Jinping's People's Liberation Army (PLA) from attempting to take over the sovereign state.
Top military expert Philip Ingram has revealed the key components behind the strategy - which would likely unfold in the event of an invasion.
Mr Ingram told The Sun's Battle Plans Exposed: "Taiwan's military posture is built around a core strategic principle known as the porcupine strategy or asymmetric defence."
The Taiwanese 'porcupine strategy' is carefully designed to warn off Xi Jinping's CCP-controlled forces
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The military intelligence maestro described how the strategy is not designed to defeat the PLA "in a conventional war, but to make an invasion so difficult, so costly and so bloody that Beijing is deterred from ever attempting it".
Taiwan's armed forces would bring in the Air Force, Navy and weaponry to turn the island nation into an impenetrable fortress.
Mr Ingram explained: "The Air Force is the first line of defence tasked with contesting air superiority over the Taiwan Strait, and against initial waves of missile strikes.
"The backbone of the fighter fleet is the recently upgraded F-16 Vipers, one of the most advanced fourth generation fleets in the world.
"This is supplemented by domestically produced jets and the French made Mirage 2000 jets."
Taiwan's armed forces would utilise their Air Force, Navy and weaponry to turn the island nation into an impenetrable fortress
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The Taiwanese Navy would assist the Air Force in fortifying the island by surrounding it with sea mines to make the short trip from China as dangerous as possible for the PLA - and prevent a naval blockade around their territory as a potential American backup force arrived.
Taiwan's navy has US destroyers, submarines and frigates at its disposal - with China said to be signing backroom deals with Russia in a bid to even out the two powers' forces.
The submarines are specially designed to carry out missions undetected, making them a deadly obstacle for any invading forces.
Taiwan's intricate missile systems are thought to be the quills of their porcupine strategy.
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Mr Ingram described the sovereign state's missile capabilities as being "the heart of Taiwan's deterrent".
He noted that "the strategy relies on a massive arsenal of precise, mobile and hard to detect missiles".
Taiwan has began calling up its civil defence and reserve forces in greater numbers in recent times.
The country's military conscription period has jumped from four months to one in a bid "to create a better trained fighting force," Mr Ingram said.
Taiwan has began calling up its civil defence and reserve forces in greater numbers in recent times
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Discussing why China may soon make an audacious land grab against its island neighbour, Mr Ingram explained: "While the world's attention is fixed on Ukraine another flashpoint could ignite an even greater conflict.
"Just 112 miles from China's coast lies Taiwan, an island of 23 million people facing 1.4 billion people and the world's largest army.
"For Beijing, it's not just territory, it's destiny. For Washington, it's a red line."
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