How China can bring Taiwan to its knees without firing a shot

For decades, discussions about a war over Taiwan have centred on one dramatic image: thousands of Chinese troops crossing the Taiwan Strait, storming beaches under heavy fire while missiles rain down from the sky.Increasingly, military analysts believe Beijing may prefer a different opening move.Rather than launching the largest amphibious assault since the Second World War, China could begin by making Taiwan economically and psychologically isolated. The objective would not be to seize territory immediately but to convince Taipei that continued resistance is too costly.It is an approach that combines naval power, cyber warfare, information operations, economic pressure and legal manoeuvres into a single campaign.Military experts often describe this as a "gray zone" strategy, operating below the threshold of a full-scale war while steadily increasing pressure.Blockade over boots & bombsA full-scale amphibious invasion across the Taiwan Strait remains one of the most difficult military operations any country could attempt.Military planners would…