Taiwan’s asymmetric strategy should be coupled with more US capabilities: former US security official

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November 8, 2023
Chris Gorin

Former US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Michèle Flournoy speaking at the 2023 Taipei Security Dialogue on Wednesday. (Photo: CNA)

A former US national security official says that the country and its allies need to increase their respective capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region as Taiwan continues its asymmetric defense strategy. Former US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Michèle Flournoy, made the comments while speaking virtually at the 2023 Taipei Security Dialogue on Wednesday.

The Defense Ministry defines asymmetric warfare as strategies that avoid taking on an opponent’s strengths while exploiting weaknesses.

Flourney says that Taiwan and the international community need to be prepared for a “moment in the 2020s” where the policy of deterrence is tested. Flournoy based this assessment on Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) instruction to Chinese military leaders to provide military options for attacking Taiwan by 2027.

In addition to deterrence, Flourney also says that the US needs to continue to engage in dialogue with China on important security issues while reducing tensions in the region. She says that the planned meeting between Xi and US President Joe Biden at the upcoming APEC summit provides a good opportunity for such dialogue to continue.