Boosting Taiwan's Defenses: Former U.S. Official Calls for Enhanced Military Training

A former U.S. defense official argues for bolstering Taiwan's combat readiness through increased training and strategic modernization.

Washington, March 26 - Randall Schriver, former U.S. assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs, emphasized the necessity of strengthening the training provided to Taiwan's armed forces to enhance their combat readiness.

Schriver, currently the chairman of the board at the American think tank Project 2049 Institute, shared his insights during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing. He was responding to a question from Republican Senator Dave McCormick regarding U.S. efforts to deter a potential conflict across the Taiwan Strait.

Schriver noted an "evolutionary process," highlighting the increased directness in U.S. communication and rhetoric concerning the matter. He added that the U.S. has expanded its engagement into previously sensitive areas, such as the training of the Taiwanese military, and advocated for intensified initiatives in these areas.

"We need to strengthen our training of Taiwan military forces," Schriver stated. "That was a taboo for decades, and now we're getting them to a point where they're more professional, more proficient, as they're placing a greater emphasis on training."

As part of a comprehensive deterrence strategy, Schriver suggested that the U.S. should also encourage Taiwan to embrace modernized command and control systems. This is crucial for optimizing battlefield decisions in light of evolving warfare tactics.

"They need to look at a lot more unmanned, autonomous, and in every domain, including underwater," he advised.

Schriver, who served during the first term of U.S. President Donald Trump, also underscored the importance of assisting the Philippines, specifically Northern Luzon, given its strategic location near the Taiwan Strait.

The U.S. military has discreetly supported the training of Taiwan's military for many years, acknowledging the sensitivity of such activities.

In March 2024, Taiwan's then-Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng (邱國正) confirmed that American military personnel were rotating to provide training to Taiwanese armed forces, including conscripts. He also revealed that Taiwanese soldiers were undergoing training in the U.S., though specific details were omitted for security reasons.

The Senate hearing was titled "Shared Threats: Indo-Pacific Alliances and Burden Sharing in Today's Geopolitical Environment."

Prior to the hearing, Republican Senator Jim Risch, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, emphasized the need to confront China's increasing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region. He added that the U.S. cannot be the "world's only watchdog."

He called for allies to work with the U.S. to counter Chinese aggression, bolstering each nation's strength and capability to respond. He urged allies to "expand U.S. basing and overflight access" throughout the Indo-Pacific.

"The best way to show China that we stand together is if we are physically present in the region," Risch concluded.