Defending Taiwan

Fire of Liberty

Yesterday I posted some comments on the alarming rise of China's military infrastructure and their development of an overarching strategic policy towards Asia. Though the various stories I referred to noted that China wants to cast its strategic fish-net well beyond the Straits of Taiwan, the Pentagon still has issued its growing concern about China's rhetoric and movements towards the island nation of Taiwan. Now its true that we've pledged to come to Taiwan's aid if they're ever attacked via the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, but few people fail to realize that this act also tied the hands of the US military by restricting military exchanges to lower ranked officers, preventing Taiwanese soldiers from wearing uniforms or wearing name badges on their flight suits while participating in joint exercises with the US all for diplomatic niceties.

Thankfully, Gary Schmitt, director of Project for the New America Century, and Dan Blumenthal of the American Enterprise Institute have penned a wonderful piece over at National Review Online on how such restrictions have hindered the US from developing an effective joint-readiness with Taiwan to effectively thwart an attack from China. Here's a look at what Schmitt and Blumenthal have suggested that the nation can do to solve the problem:

Although China will object to allowing U.S. general and flag officers in Taiwan, the proposal would not violate the existing American policy toward China and Taiwan. The current restrictions on visits to Taiwan by general officers are based on "guidelines" issued by the State Department's Bureau of East Asian Affairs in 1979 following the Carter administration's decision to end formal relations with Taiwan and establish them with Communist China. But the restrictions were not part of any formal agreement with China, nor was it in response to any particular demand by Beijing. In short, this is a self-imposed proscription which has not been properly reexamined in light of either America's obligations under the Taiwan Relations Act or the growth of a much more capable Chinese military force. Indeed, permit U.S. generals and flag officers to visit Taiwan would reaffirm the essentials of America's one-China policy: While the United States does not endorse any specific political outcome on unification, it is also committed to preventing the mainland from attempts to annex the island by force.

The American policy of deterring Beijing from using military force against Taiwan and reassuring Taipei in its dealings with the mainland has facilitated peace and great cross-straits economic growth for decades. But it is a policy that is increasingly put in jeopardy by the ongoing development of China's military power. Removing an outdated restriction on defense cooperation with Taiwan is a sensible step to take now in light of this new threat. The idea that generals and admirals can travel to China, Libya, and Uzbekistan but not Taiwan is a restriction that is not only ridiculous on its face but, increasingly, dangerous to the very men and women who will be asked to risk their lives should deterrence fail.

I hope that we never have to battle the Chinese in the Straits of Taiwan but it's always good to be prepared. So get to work Washington.