Analysis: Chinese Invasion of Taiwan Would Require Three Unprecedented Military Operations (warontherocks.com)

• PLA would need to achieve three military history firsts simultaneously
• Taiwan's mobile anti-ship missiles threaten landing throughout transit
• Airborne and helicopter forces are extremely vulnerable to modern air defenses

"A detailed military analysis argues that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would require three operational firsts: an amphibious landing under anti-ship missile threat, a large-scale airborne drop against modern air defenses, and a long-range helicopter air assault. The analysis highlights that the People's Liberation Army's limited amphibious lift forces reliance on airborne troops, but such operations have never succeeded under modern conditions. Taiwan would not need to defeat the invasion outright, only disrupt its tight sequence."