U.S. Study Reveals That China's Air Blockade of Taiwan Would Require 860 Daily Flights to Supply the Island — Operation Considered Infeasible Due to Complexity

U.S. Study Reveals That China’s Air Blockade of Taiwan Would Require 860 Daily Flights to Supply the Island — Operation Considered Infeasible Due to Complexity

Written by Romário Pereira de Carvalho

Published on 03/08/2025 at 13:48

Updated on 03/08/2025 at 13:52

Imagem ilustrativa: IA

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Simulation Reveals That Breaking Taiwan’s Air Blockade Would Require 860 Daily Flights and Exhaust the Global Logistics Capacity of the United States

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington conducted simulations that reveal a colossal challenge: breaking Taiwan’s air blockade would require such a complex operation that it borders on the impossible.

The study considers various blockade scenarios and points to an alarming number. Approximately 860 flights per day would be needed, with large aircraft, just to supply the population of 23 million people. Even so, this effort would not prevent the island’s economic collapse.

China’s Maneuvers Intensify Concerns

Tensions increased after U.S. officials visited Taiwan, prompting strong military reactions from China.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

Logistical Capacity at Its Limit

According to the report, the Pentagon would have to mobilize nearly its entire strategic mobility fleet. This would compromise the United States’ ability to respond to other global emergencies.

One of the U.S.’s main transport models, the C-17, would need to operate on an unprecedented scale. To maintain daily supply, 39,000 tons of food, energy, and medical supplies would be needed.

The flight routes also complicate logistics. The distances between air bases and Taiwan range from 657 km to 2,700 km, which limits the number of viable locations for takeoffs.

China Would Have to Choose Between Blockade or Invasion

The study also raises doubts about China’s ability to maintain an effective blockade. According to Eric Heginbotham, co-author of the research, China would not be able to carry out a blockade and an invasion simultaneously.

“In either scenario, China will lose assets necessary for the other option,” said Heginbotham.

He warns that one action following the other would remove the element of surprise and allow time for a reaction from Taiwan and its allies.

Pentagon Must Prepare Despite Limitations

Even in light of the difficulty, CSIS recommends that the U.S. develop plans for a possible air bridge.

While it may not solve the problem, a limited operation could provide temporary humanitarian assistance in case of emergency.

With information from AeroIn.

U.S. Study Reveals That China’s Air Blockade of Taiwan Would Require 860 Daily Flights to Supply the Island — Operation Considered Infeasible Due to Complexity

Simulation Reveals That Breaking Taiwan’s Air Blockade Would Require 860 Daily Flights and Exhaust the Global Logistics Capacity of the United States

China’s Maneuvers Intensify Concerns

Logistical Capacity at Its Limit

China Would Have to Choose Between Blockade or Invasion

Pentagon Must Prepare Despite Limitations

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U.S. Study Reveals That China’s Air Blockade of Taiwan Would Require 860 Daily Flights to Supply the Island — Operation Considered Infeasible Due to Complexity

Simulation Reveals That Breaking Taiwan’s Air Blockade Would Require 860 Daily Flights and Exhaust the Global Logistics Capacity of the United States

China’s Maneuvers Intensify Concerns

Logistical Capacity at Its Limit

China Would Have to Choose Between Blockade or Invasion

Pentagon Must Prepare Despite Limitations

A village with 115 inhabitants wants new residents: it offers a house, a job, up to 44 thousand euros in benefits, almost free rent, an annual grant of 8 thousand euros for 3 years, and a 20 thousand euro incentive for businesses in the mountains of Italy.

NASA is offering US$ 750,000 to people from anywhere in the world who solve a problem that could decide survival on Mars: creating food for astronauts without relying on resupply from Earth.

Seven world powers including the US, China, and Russia are spending €22 billion on a reactor in the south of France that aims to confine plasma at 150 million degrees Celsius, ten times the temperature of the Sun’s core, using a magnetic field capable of lifting an entire aircraft carrier.

With a wingspan of 152 meters, 76 tires, and a capacity to carry 1,270 tons, the Boeing Pelican was the giant “flying ship” that promised to cross oceans close to the water on an invisible air cushion beneath its wings.

While countries spend billions to draw water from the sea, a Nobel-winning scientist creates a container-sized machine that extracts up to 1,000 liters per day from dry air and uses ultrasound to release water in minutes, even in the middle of the desert.

After 16 years and almost 600 prototypes, a Chinese inventor unveils the world’s smallest and cheapest manned jet, at just 3.80 meters long and costing US$7.2 thousand in materials.

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