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3 June 2023 (Saturday)
Taiwan Spec Ops Go Dark
Media Blackout
By Wendell Minnick (Whiskey Mike) 顏文德
TAIPEI - Media trips to military bases around Taiwan are now common. Over the past 30 years, I have been on over 100 C-130 sorties to bases to cover exercises and demonstrations. This does not even include the bus trips to closer bases near Taipei or naval patrols.
Nothing seemed out of bounds to me. This included Taiwan’s special operations units.
I have had the honor of interacting with all of Taiwan’s spec ops, including the Army Aviation and Special Forces Command’s: jungle warfare school and airborne school; Marine Corps’ Amphibious Reconnaissance Patrol (ARP) that include four bases; Marine Corps’ Special Service Company (SSC); Army’s legendary 101st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion (ARB/Army Frogmen) that serve exclusively on the outer islands; and the Army’s Special Service Company trained for anti-terrorism and hostage missions.
Much of this data can be found in my 570-page Taiwan Army Weapons and Equipment, including Marine Corps (2022). Additional material includes the National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), 202, 205, 209 Arsenals and the 401/402 Factory.
For 30 years I have had complete access to special operations bases and personnel, including an Army two-day jungle warfare training course.
Until this year…
Now ALL media is forbidden to enter these facilities.
This includes even the MND’s Military News Agency, which has had carte blanche long before I arrived in Taiwan as a journalist.
I was one of the first foreign media, via Jane’s Defence Weekly and later Asia Bureau Chief, Defense News, to be invited to these bases in 2000, along with the Associate Press, AFP and Reuters (which were the only other foreign media allowed). I often found myself fairly alone in some of the most secret facilities on Taiwan. Now the U.S. military has been sending advisers to train Taiwan special operations units. This, in my opinion, is why all media (domestic and foreign) have been barred from these bases.
ABOVE: photograph taken by Wendell Minnick of 101 ARB exercise for beach infiltration.
Officially, the number of active duty U.S. military personnel assigned to the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT/de facto U.S. Embassy) was recently reported at 200-250.
However, my experience has taught me that the number must be calculated differently to include Temporary Duty (TDY) military personnel. The rule of thumb comes from a twist of the average number of combat deaths and wounded: average of two (rounded to the unit) wounded per one death.
For example: 10 dead normally meant 20 wounded, therefore you lose a Platoon (30 men) in military jargon.
So 200-250 AIT plus x2 TDY = 600-750 total in Taiwan.
AIT military personnel normally serve 3-4 years. In military jargon, that number would represent roughly a combat infantry Company.
So the total: 600-750 in military jargon would roughly equally four to six Companies or one Battalion depending on the mission requirements.
This is an incredible number of U.S. military personnel in Taiwan since the U.S. declared Taiwan a non-entity in 1979 and closed the US-Taiwan Defense Command.
This does not suggest that all 600-750 are training special operations units, but it does mean there are programs in progressus, whether army, navy, air force, etc., the public is clueless about.
ABOVE: This 2022 photograph popped up on numerous local Taiwanese social media accounts this week. Wayne Hsu is a military journalist well-known for his quality photography and video production.
ABOVE: Enhanced photograph.
Now that the American military is here things have changed. Local media outlets have described them as “advisers”, which is my opinion is a mistake.
When I was growing up during the Vietnam War, the mere mention of “American military advisers” in some exotic place normally meant tragedy was around the corner.
The media loves the phrase as it makes the story sexy, even if it is a misconception.
The phrase “military advisers” causes the imagination to kick into overdrive with Green Berets parachuting into a dark jungle canopy to work with long forgotten aborigines. Movies are great, except John Wayne’s 1968 horrific Green Berets (Why Sulu? Why?).
Now, after 40 years, that American military personnel are pouring into Taiwan my fears of mission creep are growing; something the Pentagon is expert at.
ABOVE: The old US-Taiwan Defense Command closed in 1979.
END