War game shows US, Japan rolling back Taiwan invasion

Heavy losses suffered in simulation that imagines amphibious assault by China

- Raul Dancel

The United States and Japan would be able to roll back a Chinese invasion of Taiwan but not without suffering heavy losses in just two weeks of fighting.

A tabletop war game conducted by Japan's Sasakawa Peace Foundation showed the US losing up to 19 ships and about 400 warplanes, and seeing close to 11,000 of its soldiers either killed or wounded.

China, on the other hand, paid for its attempt 156 warships, to seize Taiwan with including two aircraft carriers, along with 168 fighter jets and over 40,000 soldiers either killed or wounded.

Japan, meanwhile, lost 144 warplanes, 15 ships and some 2,500 soldiers.

Taiwan saw some 13,000 soldiers killed or wounded and 18 ships and 200 planes lost.

In the end, after so much loss for all sides, Taiwan remained a self-ruled island.

The war exercise - held in January was reported by Japan's Nikkei newspaper this week.

The simulation imagined an attempt by China to invade Taiwan via an amphibious assault in 2026.