The US could help Taiwan defeat China with a new special operations forces model. The current rotational advisory model is poorly suited for the task.
Key facts
- •The US has spent decades using rotational military teams to train foreign partners.
- •The current advisory model is poorly suited for the task of helping Taiwan prepare for a prolonged campaign against China.
- •A long-duration integrated advisory organization can produce institutional change and strategic effects.
- •The proposed advisory model is based on the organizational principles of Cold War Detachment A in Berlin.
- •Detachment A operated in Berlin from 1956 to 1990 with a core of less than 100 US Army Special Forces operators.
- •The mission of Detachment A was to conduct sabotage operations and create chaos in the Soviet rear area with anti-communist partisans.
The US has spent decades using rotational military teams to train foreign partners, but this approach may not be effective in helping Taiwan prepare for a prolonged campaign against China. A different model for US special operations forces advising is needed.
Current Advisory Model
The current US advisory model for Taiwan is based on rotational military teams, which is sustainable and useful for specific tactical tasks. However, it is poorly suited for the institutional, linguistic, and political work required to help Taiwan prepare for a prolonged campaign against a massively superior force.
Proposed Advisory Model
A long-duration integrated advisory organization can produce institutional change and strategic effects that rotational advisory models cannot. This approach could improve Taiwan's ability to mount a credible defense and prepare for a more ambitious strategic goal: deny a rapid Chinese victory and animate the prospect of a prolonged, costly campaign.
Detachment A Model
The proposed advisory model is based on the organizational principles of Cold War Detachment A in Berlin. Detachment A operated in Berlin from 1956 to 1990 with a core of less than 100 US Army Special Forces operators on two-year assignments. The mission was to conduct sabotage operations to slow invading Soviet forces and create chaos in the Soviet rear area with anti-communist partisans.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by War on the Rocks.
