The US needs to help Taiwan build its asymmetric defense capabilities to make it hard for China to attack Taiwan. Former US Undersecretary of Defense Michele Flournoy made the remark on Monday at a conference hosted by the Atlantic Council about the Ukraine crisis and Taiwan.
Flourney visited Taiwan in March along with other former US defense officials shortly after the Ukraine War started. She said that President Tsai Ing-wen is using this crisis to show the public the importance of standing up for their freedom and democracy. She said that a nation’s resistance can inspire the support of the international community. She said, “We need to help Taiwan become a little porcupine that is very indigestible to a Chinese aggressor.”
Former national security advisor James Jones said that Chinese President Xi Jinping is watching how the Ukraine War goes for Vladimir Putin. He said this will affect how Xi responds. Jones said the US needs to strengthen ties with Taiwan and guarantee Taiwan’s ability to defend itself. The US needs to help Xi understand that any military options would not be in his interests.