The Coast Guard is vital to defending Taiwan against China
By Adam Stahl and Bradley A. Thayer, opinion contributors — 10/31/21 05:00 PM EDT
As China expands the formidableness of its forces and the frequency of its naval exercises, it is increasingly apparent that Taiwan’s sovereignty may be in jeopardy. A Chinese incursion or major attack might come in the form of an embargo, blockade, airborne assault, cyber war, or amphibious attack — or, more likely, in concert. Taiwan faces the daunting challenge of defending itself from each.
While the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) would carry the largest role in response, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) — the military’s fifth-largest service, located within the Department of Homeland Security — can contribute invaluably to deterrence or defense. Often under-appreciated and underfunded, the USCG stands poised to be one of the most effective instruments for safeguarding Taiwanese security. It can bolster deterrence and provide overt support while avoiding precipitous escalatory pressure from China that could arise from an open DOD presence.
Additionally, the Coast Guard’s multidimensional mandate, in both the civilian and military space, enables the service to compete in an increasingly complex global security environment, one at the nexus of kinetic and non-kinetic warfare, where the physical and digital worlds continue to converge. Beijing’s preferred tactics are intimidating commercial and government vessels, extracting resources in other countries’ waters, conducting cyber-espionage operations, and expanding its territorial claims — all with the calculated intent of undermining global norms without triggering a significant international response.
https://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/578615-the-coast-guard-is-vital-to-defending-taiwan-against-china
