If China invades Taiwan, China's special forces would be key to its success, the first forces ashore to clear obstacles for inbound troops and then to scout for command centers and air defenses for airstrikes.
China has expanded the ranks of its special operators, but they lack the combat experience and esprit de corps that defines the world's most elite operators - raising questions about their utility in a major operation.
According to analysts John Chen and Joel Wuthnow, special operations forces likely would play important supporting roles in an amphibious assault on Taiwan.
China's SOF comprises 20,000 to 30,000 personnel, according to a 2023 U.S. Department of Defense report; US Special Operations Command has 70,000 active and reserve personnel.
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