U.S. Troops Have Secretly Been In Taiwan For Over A Year Helping Island Prepare For War With China: Report
By: Ryan Saavedra
This is great news. Taiwan is totally committed to its self defense in the same manner any other freedom loving nation with free markets, a representative democracy and a population with most of its population only knowing our western way of life would. Taiwan is an integral part of the indo-pacific regions free market democracies. It’s good that they have the support of the quad and the five eyed nations. That we are training the Taiwan military in how to exact maximum possible fatalities of any invading force and making its defense a whole of nation civilian effort as well as standard military effort just like any western nation would do.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
U.S. Troops Have Secretly Been In Taiwan For Over A Year Helping Island Prepare For War With China: Report
SAM YEH/AFP via Getty Images U.S. military forces have secretly been operating in Taiwan for over a year to help train Taiwan’s military and defenses in preparation for a possible war with communist China.
“About two dozen members of U.S. special-operations and support troops are conducting training for small units of Taiwan’s ground forces,” The Wall Street Journal reported . “The U.S. Marines are working with local maritime forces on small-boat training. The American forces have been operating in Taiwan for at least a year.”
China has significantly increased its military posturing toward Taiwan during the Biden-era as numerous critics say that America’s enemies around the world have been emboldened by what they see as weakness from Democrat President Joe Biden.
“The special-operations unit and the Marine contingent are a small but symbolic effort by the U.S. to increase Taipei’s confidence in building its defenses against potential Chinese aggression,” the report added. “Current and former U.S. government officials and military experts believe that deepening ties between U.S. and Taiwan military units is better than simply selling Taiwan military equipment.”
The report said that officials were concerned that Taiwan has spent too much money on expensive military hardware and not enough on defensive systems that would be used to thwart an invasion.
Former Deputy National Security Adviser Matt Pottinger said, “Taiwan badly neglected its national defense for the first 15 years or so of this century, buying too much expensive equipment that will get destroyed in the first hours of a conflict, and too little in the way of cheaper but lethal systems—antiship missiles, smart sea mines and well-trained reserve and auxiliary forces—that could seriously complicate Beijing’s war plans.”
China sent 52 military planes from its air force into Taiwanese air space on Monday, the largest incursion ever by China, which came after the Biden administration said in a statement at the start of the week that it was “very concerned” about China’s repeated provocative military actions toward Taiwan.
“Since Friday, when China marked its national day, the country has embarked upon a massive ramping up of its missions, with almost 150 aircraft flying into the defense zone over the space of four days,” Reuters reported . “Taiwanese fighter jets scrambled to warn away the Chinese planes, while missile systems were deployed to monitor them.”
Taiwan’s military reported that China sent the following military aircraft into its airspace on Monday:
- 34 J-16 sorties (Thirty four J-16)
- Su Kai-30 aircraft 2 sorties (Two SU-30)
- Y-8 anti-submarine aircraft 2 sorties (Two Y-8 ASW)
- Air Police-500 aircraft 2 sorties (Two KJ-500 AEW&C)
- H-6 12 sorties (Twelve H-6)
“The defense of Taiwan is in our own hands, and we are absolutely committed to that,” Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu told Australia’s ABC. “If China is going to launch a war against Taiwan we will fight to the end, and that is our commitment. I’m sure that if China is going to launch an attack against Taiwan, I think they are going to suffer tremendously as well.”
“We would like to engage in security or intelligence exchanges with other like-minded partners, Australia included, so Taiwan is better prepared to deal with the war situation,” Wu continued. “We are pleased to see that the like-minded partners of Taiwan — the United States and the UK and Australia — are working closer with each other to acquire more advanced defence articles so that we can defend Indo-Pacific. Australia is a great country, and I’m very glad to see that Australia is going to shoulder more responsibility to maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.”
Wu warned that one of the things that Taiwan needs to prepare for is that China may try to impose a blockade around Taiwan, which he suggested would be an even bigger problem than if China were to launch an invasion.
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Biden has done more to stand up to China in a few months than TFG did in 4 years.
Uh, that is not accurate. The subject matter of the seeded article was done by Trump. Trump was the first President since the end of the first Cold War to stand up to that regime.
And Obama never rebalanced the USN to have 60% of the fleet in the Pacific ... /S.
You mean that 24 or so military trainers are more important than?:
The Defense Security and Cooperation Agency, or DSCA, announced the approval on Wednesday afternoon for Taiwan to acquire 40 M-109A6 Paladin 155mm self-propelled howitzers with associated equipment and support. The estimated cost of the potential sale is $750 million.
Also included in the flagged arms package to the self-ruling east Asian island are 20 M992A2 field artillery ammunition support vehicles and 5 M88A2 Hercules armored recovery vehicles, along with an Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System, radios, spares, plus other contractor and logistics support.
More significantly, the approved package for Taiwan also includes 1,698 precision guidance kits, which can be fitted on standard 155mm artillery shells to convert them into GPS-guided shells for precision artillery strikes against point targets.
The prime contractor for the howitzers and armored recovery vehicles will be BAE Systems, while the Anniston Army Depot in Bynum, Alabama, would be responsible for the ammunition support vehicles. The DSCA says that the proposed sale “will contribute to the modernization of the recipient’s self-propelled howitzer fleet, enhancing its ability to meet current and future threats.”
In case you are wondering what this particular howitzer is capable of:
This has pissed off the Chinese far more than the bucket of military trainers.
Enough with the facts, who actually need facts, they just get in the way of BS.
Sorry ... ;- }
We need the navy larger which Trump did and we need 75% of it in the indo-pacific region.
China is laughing at every the US is doing in Taiwan. All of the actions being taken, and that includes by Biden, are nothing more than window dressing.
If the Chinese decide to blitz Taiwan the war would be over in a matter of hours; not days. There is no way the US or it's allies could react swiftly enough to respond and aid Taiwan. The most that could be hoped for is Taiwan hurts China enough militarily, to give the US and the rest our allies to coalesce in Japan.
If Biden really wanted to stick it to the Chinese he would put Taiwan under the US nuclear umbrella; and let the Chinese know that any attack on Taiwan would result in a nuclear response. That would take too much backbone for Biden; and chances are the Chinese wouldn't believe him anyways.
So IYO an attack on Taiwan should be met with a nuclear response from the US. That's about as fucking stupid as it gets. I'm sure that China would just stand by and absorb a nuclear attack without launching one in retaliation.
Now you're a military expert, I'm sure Russia would approve of only having 25% in the Atlantic.
It is called mutual assured destruction we had had it forever with Russia and China. All of the NATO countries are under our nuclear umbrella. Or do you really think that we would have enough time to launch a military response against Russia if they decide to invade their NATO neighbors that used to be a part of the USSR?
The only one being stupid here is you.
France's 290 and Britain's 215 nuclear warheads are a part of that umbrella. You may deride those 505 warheads but I doubt Russia does.
Do you ever do any research into your proclamations?
You are the one that said if China attacked Taiwan we should launch a nuclear attack on China. You didn’t say anything about a nuclear attack by China. So if we launched a nuclear attack we can expect one in return. Brilliant decision on you part.
I didn’t say you were stupid but your decision/opinion was. Thanks for showing once again that your reading comprehension could stand some improvement.
All of our Boomers alone carry 20 SLBMs with multiple programmable warheads and can be in the S China Sea
or the Pacific with our Allies.
Taiwan has been under that umbrella since the late 50's.
that's probably the only reason Taiwan still exists independently,
A large chunk of the Russian fleet is in the pacific at Vladivostok. NATO navies can help deal with the Russian Atlantic and Back sea fleets.
The only thing stopping China is the cost, sure they can take it but if they kill 3 or 4 million Taiwanese Citizens to do it they will be an International Pariah. Taiwan might be safe as long as they make it clear they will fight to the death but it's hard to tell with the way China has been acting over the last decade. All Taiwan can do is insure that China's international standing is decimated if they take Taiwan. China can take Taiwan in a day but Xi Jinping and CCP will have proven they are no better than Mao (which the world already suspects) and the World will see them and treat them like they treated China in 1965.
The Taiwan military is a force that may be able to repel a naval and airborne invasion.
You are dreaming, XX. The size of the Taiwanese navy and all military assets are a tiny fraction of CCP's.
I spent a great deal of time in Taiwan having offices in Taipai City and Keelung. I've met their business and political leaders, I have a great deal of respect for them and I'm sure that they would put up a hell of a fight but the reality of it is they would be simply overwhelmed by the CCP.
Take a look at the differences in each of their branches of service.
The Taiwan military is wholly focused on Defense against a Chinese invasion, their coastal defenses are Normandy times 100. The only way China can land is to bomb them to oblivion and kill millions of Taiwanese in the process.
China could simply blockade Taiwan. In doing so it would require that the US break that blockade which could be very costly to the US and any allies joining them.
They could but I think it would be the biggest mistake they could make. Nothing would make the UN recognize Taiwan faster than a Blockade.
I doubt if China cares what the UN would do, with both China and Russia have veto votes I don't see this as a path that would work.
that shit is long overdue to be changed
It might change fast if China tries to blockade Taiwan.
How could it be changed? I looked it up and it seems damn near impossible to remove a member from the security council.
Maybe America should be grateful to China for its recent threats against Taiwan because they are helping to require more production and sales for the American arms manufacturers, one of the most important industries that keeps America's economy afloat.
Oh I thought you were going to say they were bringing opposite ideologies together in a decent and polite discussion.
The issue is what China can move either airborne or by naval transport, and how much of it Taiwan can sink and shoot down before they get there.
Please XX, if you don't understand how this works it's best not to keep up with comments that don't really address the reality of the situation.
Sorry to disappoint you.
If the logistics of a naval invasion combined with an airborne element, were easily accomplished, China would have already done it. They’ve always had a huge advantage in population size and size of military forces. Taiwan simply needs to demonstrate that they can make an invasion attempt by China prohibitively expensive in economic cost and in the casualty count of the invaders as well as to leave little or nothing remaining of economic value standing intact as a result of the all out battle in defense of their liberty and freedoms.
Thank you for your opinion but most experts disagree with you.
I hope for their sakes they have a viable escape plan.
Why? Democracy is not going to cut and run in the face of godless communism in the form of a genocidal regime.
It's not democracy. it's flesh and blood people fighting over real estate like they have for tens of thousands of years..
That assumes that people don’t fight over or take a stand for values when they are attacked. It’s a good thing Winston Churchill was motivated. The people of Taiwan have the Battle of Britain as their role model for their situation. The Chinese regime perfectly fit the other side of that battle.
Japan? The rightful owners?
The Chinese ceded to japan the islands in perpetuity in 1895.
In 1952 the Japanese were forced to cede Taiwan to ROC by the UN
In spite of Chang Kai Shek's occupation of Formosa/Taiwan.
Treaties aren't worth the paper that are used.
I thought my comment was relevant to the article headline, but I can't make head or tale of how your reply comment is relevant to mine.
they can escape to japan who were the rightful owners of Formosa/Taiwan from 1895 to 1952
when the UN cow tailed to the ROC and handed the 'ownership" to Bejing instead of the ruling local
government of Chaing Kai Shek
I'm sure that 23 million people would not have much impact on Japan
/s
Japan has hinted that they would intervene and help Taiwan preserve its current status if they were attacked.
Oh well, there's nothing like a hint to deter ...
I don't see that as a possibility. They would have to change their constitution and the recent comments by Japan say differently.
The ROC is the KMT (Kuomintang) and Chaing Kai Shek was the leader of the KMT and ROC from 1928 till 1949 when they retreated to Taiwan when the Communists won the war and the Mainland became the PRC. It was in 1945 that Taiwan was given over to the ROC and the Communists never ruled Taiwan, at the end of the war the ROC was the recognized government (by the Allies) of all of China even though we had helped both the Communists and the Nationalists(KMT) during WW2. China was in a civil war between the CPC(communists) and KMT(Kuomintang) from 1934 right through WW2 till 1949.
Not sure where I read that but yes, China (PRC/CCP) took over on behalf of the Allies in 1945 but could never do anything on the island to enforce their will on the ROC.
It wasn't until 1971 the the UN voted to not recognize the ROC any longer. Only 14 countries and the Vatican recognize Tawain as an independent nation, usually as Formosa.
Effed up situation.
Typical of how the Allies redrew borders around the world
particularly the ME
without any real knowledge, appreciation or respect for the people that lived there.
Unfortunately I have to agree with you. If China decides to launch a full scale military attack, the Taiwanese military is simply not big enough to fight off a Chinese invasion.
23.57 Million people in Taiwan- 290,000 of which are in the military vs 1.402 billion people in China- 2 million of which are in the military
US technology might give Taiwan and edge; but almost a 7 to 1 edge? Not even close.
The US could put troops into Taiwan permanently like they have in South Korea; but I really don't think that Biden has the backbone or the stomach for it. Even if he does, the amount of US presence that would be needed as an adequate deterrent would be prohibitive. The only real solution would be to put Taiwan under the US nuclear umbrella; but for whatever reason everyone is now terrified of mutual assured destruction- even though that is what we already have with every nuclear capable country on the planet.
But at least the US military industrial complex is making out big time. Subs to Australia; massive arms contract to Taiwan. So at least someone will be happy regardless of the outcome.
Solidarity! 🇹🇼
U.S. Confirmation of Troops in Taiwan Tests China’s Bottom Line (msn.com)
As late as 1979 the US had 30,000 troops in Taiwan and over the years including the recent past I'm sure that we have had small numbers of troops there. The problem comes that this was made public at a time of high tension between all three countries and China now has to do something (don't know what) to address this sitution based on their six conditions statement.
Step one...
There ya go. invoking the 1979 One China agreement.
I find it curious that this was thrown out into the media at this time though, don't you? Meaning the troops. Perhaps it's an attempt to appear supportive?......
They need some good press and support for Taiwan is popular and bipartisan.
The timing of this is questionable.
That, and perhaps as a warning to China, although I'm sure China already knew about it.
I'm sure there's not much that goes on in Taiwan that China doesn't know about. A good portion of Taiwan's population are or are descendants of refugees that escaped China so I'm sure China sent many thousands of informants to infiltrate and many are probably still actively spying today.
There is a pro-Beijing political party in opposition, so Beijing probably has no difficulty getting information.
It’s pro having a positive relationship with Beijing not pro being coerced into a return. It’s the same party that retreated to the island in 1949 to escape the then new regime. The current party is made up mostly of the original indigenous population of the island before the Nationalists arrived in 1949. It is that non Chinese population that is most adamantly opposed to “reunification” with the mainland.