Washington: Randall Schriver, former U.S. assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs, emphasized the need for the United States to bolster its training of Taiwan's military forces to improve their combat readiness. Schriver, who currently serves as the chairman of the board of the American think tank Project 2049 Institute, conveyed this perspective during his testimony at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing. He responded to inquiries from Republican Senator Dave McCormick regarding U.S. governmental measures to deter potential conflicts across the Taiwan Strait.
According to Focus Taiwan, Schriver described the evolution of U.S. policies, noting a shift towards more direct language and actions concerning Taiwan's military training. He highlighted that the U.S. has ventured into previously sensitive areas, such as training Taiwanese military personnel, and advocated for further enhancement of these initiatives.
Schriver remarked, "We need to strengthen our training of Taiwan military forces. 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."
Additionally, Schriver recommended that as part of its strategy to deter cross-strait conflicts, the U.S. should encourage Taiwan to modernize its command and control systems. This modernization would optimize battlefield decisions in light of the evolving nature of warfare. He suggested that Taiwan should explore unmanned and autonomous systems across various domains, including underwater operations.
During his tenure as assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs under President Donald Trump's administration, Schriver also advocated for the development of the Philippines, particularly Northern Luzon, due to its geographical proximity to the Taiwan Strait.
The U.S. military has a history of discreetly training Taiwan's military forces over the years, given the sensitive nature of these activities. In March 2024, Taiwan's then-Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng confirmed that American military personnel were providing training to Taiwan's armed forces, which included conscripts, while Taiwanese soldiers were also receiving training in the U.S. Specific details were withheld for security reasons.
The Senate hearing, titled "Shared Threats: Indo-Pacific Alliances and Burden Sharing in Today's Geopolitical Environment," was initiated by Republican Senator Jim Risch, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He underscored the need to address China's increasing aggression in the Indo-Pacific region, asserting that America should not act as the sole global watchdog.
Risch emphasized cooperation with allies, stating, "To counter Chinese aggression, we need our allies to work with us to ensure each of us is strong and capable of pushing back," and advocated for the expansion of U.S. basing and overflight access in the region. "The best way to show China that we stand together is if we are physically present in the region," he concluded.