Politics

US think tank calls for 'asymmetric capabilities'

• Publication Date：12/28/2009
• Source： China Times

Taiwan should build up its “asymmetrical capabilities” rather than trying to purchase F-16 C/D jet fighters, a recent report released by the Center for a New American Security suggested.

Co-founded by Michele Flournoy and Kurt M. Campbell, assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs in the U.S. Department of State, CNAS is a Washington-based think tank specializing in U.S. national security issues.

In its new Policy Brief published Dec. 10, CNAS called for Washington to place importance on its relations with Taiwan by adopting three concrete steps. The first is to “expand trade relations with Taiwan and lend diplomatic support to countries seeking to do the same.”

The next step is to “continue arms sales to Taiwan and help analyze its defense posture in a changing military and diplomatic environment.” The third step is to “plan appropriate high-level visits and express political support.”

On the arms sales issue, the report did not recommend the acquisition of F-16 C/D jet fighters, but instead urged the ROC military to employ “asymmetric capabilities,” echoing the viewpoint of Wallace “Chip” Gregson Jr., U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, who said, “Asymmetry will not replace a layered defense or defeat PRC forces, but it can deter them from fully employing the advanced weapons they are developing and undermine their effectiveness.”

According to the report, the White House’s approval of arms sale to Taiwan, in particular F-16 C/D fighters, in Oct. 2008, “may not further Taiwan’s asymmetric advantages, given the mainland’s expanding air capabilities.” However, the U.S. “current commitments for arms sales should be maintained and future sales agreements should be concluded with an asymmetric strategy in mind.”

The paper observed, “Achieving asymmetric capabilities requires more than simply purchasing new weapons. It involves developing new doctrine and tactics aimed at undermining an attacker’s strategy and exploiting its vulnerabilities.” It went on to say that “addressing these issues is a long-term problem that deserves long-term analysis and close consultation.”

The report noted Taiwan’s next quadrennial defense review will be released in 2013, which “gives Taipei and Washington plenty of time to establish a joint analysis group to plan for Taiwan’s defense in light of contemporary financial, political and military realities.” It urged the U.S. to “push for the establishment of such a group.” (LC-THN)