Book: Modern Taiwan Air Power

Local Military Journalists Outshine U.S. Think Tankers

ABOVE: C-130HE Hercules (Tail Number: 1351), 6th (439th) Combined Wing, 20th Electronic Warfare Group, Pingtung Air Base. HE=Electronic Warfare/Signal Intelligence Collection. Author Patch Collection.

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13 August 2022

Book: Modern Taiwan Air Power

Local Military Journalists Outshine U.S. Think Tankers

By Wendell Minnick (Whiskey Mike) 顏文德

TAIPEI - I wanted to avoid book reviews in China In Arms.  However, the motivation was to avoid U.S. think tank books often full of errors written by those who have little in the way of boots on the ground in Taiwan. Sure, they might drop by for the CAPS-RAND-NDU Conference every couple of years, but get out with the troops?

Ray Choo and Peter Ho have written the ultimate book on Taiwan air power: Modern Taiwanese Air Power (Harpia, 2021).  Of course, academics looking for books to footnote in their research papers can continue searching Google, but with this book there is an extraordinary amount of data, including accurate Order of Battle, unit insignias, bases, and a must read bibliography/footnotes. 

Even the photographs are by the authors, giving them literally hands-on interface with the very aircraft and munitions and bases and pilots, etc.; that no U.S. academic or think tanker can even come close to matching.  This includes ANYONE in the Defense Attaché System (DAO) at the American Institute of Taiwan (AIT), the de facto U.S. embassy in Taipei, who normally serve only three years. 

AIT’s own reputation inside the local Ministry of National Defense (MND) had long earned it the moniker “Assholes In Taiwan” due to their bizarre security and military recommendations. These include asymmetrical warfare and the porcupine strategy, both of which the MND rolls its eyes.

The only U.S. think tank mentioned in the footnotes are reports from The Project 2049 Institute.  And for good reason: 2049 is full of former U.S. intelligence and Pentagon folks that have traveled back and forth from the island for over 20 years.  Even during COVID, 2049 delegations have already traveled to Taiwan three times!  Nothing seems to stop them.  Other U.S. think tanks are far too busy hiding behind their computer.

ABOVE: The U.S. think tank community should note that this is what is called research and not Googling. 3rd (427th) Tactical Fighter Wing, 7th Tactical Fighter Group (Coyote), Ching Chuan Kung (CCK) Air Base, Indigenous Defense Fighter (F-CK-1C/D). MND Liaison Officer (Left) and Whiskey Mike (Right). Author Photo.

Choo and Ho are lifers in the local military journalist community.  Men totally ignored by the U.S. intelligence and military community. 

I recommend amendments to U.S. intelligence policy forbidding speaking to journalists; not just in Taiwan but in international conflict zones.  It is fair to argue that speaking to journalists is dangerous (particularly so-called elite publications that have now become weary rags: New York Times, Washington Post, etc.), but these publications rely entirely on local stringers who were born and raised in the conflict areas.  

Both Choo and Ho have my highest salutations for a job well-done.