A senior researcher at a U.S. government think tank wrote an article stating that Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen will resume service for one year. He believes that boosting Taiwan's military manpower, morale and self-confidence is the best way to deter China and defend Taiwan.

(file photo)

[Compiler Guan Shuping/Comprehensive Report] Gil Barndollar, a senior researcher at the Washington think tank "Defense Priorities", wrote an article in "Nikkei Asia" on the 6th, affirming Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen's extension The compulsory service period, and pointing out that Europe is now paying the price for the long-term "free ride" on security in the past, pointing out that boosting Taiwan's military manpower, morale and self-confidence is the best way to deter China and defend Taiwan. Compulsory service is the first step.

Barndale described Taiwan as "Cuba in the 21st century" in the article. Just tens of miles away, across the sea, there is the biggest competitor in the political and economic system. Taiwan is also a key producer of cutting-edge semiconductor chips in the world. Live under the constant and rising threat of a Chinese blockade or invasion.

Under such circumstances, Taiwan has finally taken a long overdue step: extending the duration of compulsory service from a symbolic four months to a meaningful 12 months.

Please read on...

The article pointed out that Taiwan's lack of military supplies is often discussed, and some weapons purchased from the United States even have to be delayed for several years to be realized.

However, the manpower problem of Taiwan's military is a deeper and more obvious problem.

Taiwan's active-duty army has about 130,000 troops. According to James Huang, a retired Lieutenant Colonel and well-known columnist in the Taiwan Army, although the reserve army claims to have 2 million troops, it is only on paper and cannot reinforce active-duty units in battle.

Taipei and Washington may hope to defeat the Chinese invasion fleet at sea, but Taiwan's army is the last bulwark against Chinese occupation and annexation.

The article points out that advocates of the U.S. defense guarantee to Taiwan believe that the U.S. has its own reasons to defend Taiwan, regardless of Taiwan’s capabilities. Very adequate.

However, many studies and wargames predict that the United States will suffer heavy losses in a war with China, and Taiwan may have to fight alone for weeks or months, waiting for the United States to recover from the first wave of Chinese attacks and come to the rescue. If Taiwan collapses at this time , for the United States and its allies, the chances of victory in this battle are even smaller.

Therefore, strengthening Taiwan militarily and diplomatically is a better solution than taking it back after losing it.

The article suggested that US military assistance should be to enable Taiwan to use its strength to properly defend itself.

The article said that the price of free riding on security issues has now appeared in Europe. The heroism and combat technology of Ukrainian troops have maintained their country’s independence, and most of the material costs of doing this have been borne by the United States.

Decades of security self-emasculation in Europe have left the continent incapable of arming itself properly, let alone supplying its neighbors when they need it.

The bigger lesson of the Ukraine war is that the will of a country, its army, and its people remains the most incalculable and most important variable in war.

In this regard, Taiwan's announcement to extend the period of compulsory service is significant.

The best way to deter China and defend Taiwan is to reinvigorate the manpower, morale, training, and self-confidence of Taiwan's armed forces. Restoring the 12-month compulsory service is an important first step.