OPINION:
In a remarkable demonstration of Taiwan’s proud democracy, nearly 14 million voters cast their ballots for president on Saturday. Not only did the election take place under the shadow of growing threats from General Secretary Xi Jinping, but its very existence served as an act of defiance to the Chinese Communist Party’s claim to speak for all individuals of Chinese heritage.
Over the last year, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has increased incursions across the Taiwan Strait’s median line in order to intimidate the island democracy. On New Year’s Day, Xi proclaimed that China taking Taiwan is “a historical inevitability.”
This week, the CCP insisted that it would “never compromise” on the issue. In light of Xi’s instructions for the PLA to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027, it is clear that we have entered a window of maximum danger.
Stepping into that window will be current Vice President Lai Ching-te from the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). The new administration is sure to have its hands full as the CCP will continue and, in all likelihood, expand its pressure cooker tactics in order to punish Taiwan voters and further isolate the island’s democracy.
Even as we celebrate Taiwan’s democratic traditions, it is time to turn the page to defend them against what will come next. It will fall on President-elect Lai to continue the DPP’s efforts to expand defense spending, enhance Taiwan’s reserve forces, and develop asymmetric capabilities to defend against a PLA onslaught.
Washington will play an indispensable role in working with the Lai administration to deter China from invading Taiwan. In doing so, we must urgently take several actions.
First, we must arm Taiwan to the teeth and turn the island into a porcupine that is too painful and costly for China to swallow.
Second, to counter any attempt by China to cross the Taiwan Strait, we must build an anti-navy of missiles, mines, and other defensive asymmetric capabilities that can sink PLA ships and landing craft, preventing them from ever reaching the shores of the island.
Third, we must strengthen our defensive and logistical posture in the Indo-Pacific. We must complement our missiles and other weapons with an enhanced basing presence and stronger force protection, as well as sophisticated logistical capabilities that will be crucial to fighting and winning any war.
To achieve these objectives, in our bipartisan Ten for Taiwan report, the Select Committee on China urged the Pentagon to speed up weapon deliveries to Taiwan and strengthen our deterrence capabilities. In October, I warned the Navy of bureaucratic delays slowing the production and delivery of key weapons to Taiwan, including Harpoon anti-ship missiles. Despite announcing the sale of hundreds of Harpoon missiles vital to Taiwan’s defense in 2020, reports indicate they won’t be delivered until 2029. I’ve asked the Navy to get to the bottom of these alarming delays and find ways to accelerate their delivery.
In November, I warned the Army about the lack of adequate missile defenses for Guam, which is home 170,000 Americans along with military bases critical to deterring an attack on Taiwan. Guam remains highly vulnerable to Chinese missiles, including some that have been labeled the “Guam Killer.” Similar to the Harpoon missiles, the Army’s proposed missile defense system for Guam has encountered significant delays. I’ve asked the Army to provide a full explanation of this situation and explain any alternative plans to protect Guam.
In December, I wrote to the Deputy Secretary of Defense highlighting recent war games that showed the United States would run out of long-range, precision-guided munitions within a matter of days should a conflict erupt with China over Taiwan. Combined with delays in deliveries of key weapons to Taiwan, such scenarios demand creative and outside-the-box thinking. Two innovative concepts – “MacGyver” Harpoons and Powered JDAMs – are particularly compelling. Bottom line: the Pentagon needs to create cost-effective solutions to quickly arm Taiwan and strengthen our deterrence capabilities.
The United States will soon have a new partner in Taipei, someone who will come to power at a moment of peril. Mr. Lai must rise to the occasion to protect his country— and as his partner, so must we. Failure is not an option.
- Rep. Michael Gallagher is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Wisconsin’s 8th congressional district since 2017. In the 118th Congress, Representative Gallagher serves as Chairman of the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, as Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation, and on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. From 2019-2021 he served as Co-Chairman of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission.
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