“[Taiwan] MND [Ministry of National Defense] outlines arms stockpiling policy. SCOPES, CALIBERS: The defense minister said the military has plans to develop a 6.8mm rifle, and is issuing optical sights, with all rifle-armed troops to get a scope,” Taipei Times. Geostrategery, Taiwan Republic 台灣国, and world history classrooms. The greatest threats to world peace and Taiwan’s national security are instability within domestic American politics, the rise of extremism and populism, and the revival of American isolationism.
This article should be read along with the reports on US Senate and House 2025 NDAA, articles linked below.
The questions asked by the anti-Taiwan and anti-democracy China KMT and People’s Party legislators are not due to national security – how can one care about “national” security if they do not consider Taiwan to be a “nation”? Instead, they are intended to assist the Chinese communists’ information warfare fomenting fear among Taiwanese citizens and creating a false sense that Taiwan strengthening its military will “provoke” a Chinese invasion. This is no different than some American and European academics and journalists assuming that Ukranian and Taiwanese democracies are by definition “provocative” and “escalatory” for the Russians and the Chinese dictators.
What is significant about this new civilian Minister of National Defense and his answers are the connections with the US House and Senate’s 2025 NDAA and the mandate for the Pentagon to establish a contingency stockpile to prepare for the growing China Threat. Another way to think about it is: that for decades Taiwanese leaders have focused on weapons/platforms and neglected logistics – dispersal, hardening of bases, electricity, water supply, communications, etc. The fact that this focus on logistics and training changed under President Tsai signaled Taiwanese civilian leaders’ seriousness – also indicating that President Tsai made significant inroads into the national security area – clearing out reactionary China KMT forces. President Tsai is the first democratically elected president in Taiwan to have made significant inroads into the national security area.
These four articles are also a good example of how closely the pro-Taiwan and pro-democracy, democratically elected leaders of Taiwan are working with the legislative and executive branches of the United States. Particularly noteworthy is the bipartisan American push for broader, more creative ways of increasing Taiwan’s national security – ammunition stockpiles are for the most acute of China Threats – integrating Taiwan into the US-led global military supply chains, focusing on geoeconomic ties in high technology, machinery, unmanned vehicles, aviation and space, agriculture, fisheries – along with educational and cultural ties, are just as important for safeguarding Taiwan’s democratic sovereignty.
Assuming relative political stability within the US and Taiwan, there are further steps needed beyond the munition stockpiles. Whether munition stockpiles are stored in and/or near Taiwan – units of American, Japanese, and allied forces must enter Taiwan and collaborate with Taiwanese military and civilian units. Only then will these forward-positioned stockpiles have any meaning. Taiwanese and American military planners, through these regular visits, can test and evaluate logistical issues on the ground. For example, during a Chinese invasion and attempted blockade, what are the harbors and airports that Taiwanese and allied forces must secure? Do the US, Japan, and allies have appropriate ships, unloading and loading vehicles, transport airplanes and helicopters? What are the key land routes and storage facilities for additional munitions to enter Taiwan and be safely dispersed and efficiently dispersed and used? What are the contingencies and backup plans? It has been decades since the US and Japanese militaries have had a presence in Taiwan – their return will not only signal resolve towards the Chinese communists but only by regularly sending military units into Taiwan can the US and Japanese military planners test and modify complex multinational military planning. 12.7.2024
US Senate bill requires arms stockpile for Taiwan. Bill also seeks US-Taiwan common operating picture, industrial base cooperation https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/5900262
US bill calls for arms stockpile to aid Taiwan. BUILDING TIES: A US House version of an NDAA bill would require that the Pentagon report on efforts to bolster defense industry cooperation with Taiwan https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2024/06/16/2003819412
US House passes military aid for Taiwan. DETERRENCE: Along with US$500 million in military aid and up to US$2 billion in loans and loan guarantees, the bill would allocate US$400 million to countering PRC influence https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2024/06/30/2003820091
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