Where’s Australia's Military in Taiwan?
A No Show, Like Always
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26 January 2025 (Sunday)
Where’s Australia’s Military in Taiwan?
A No Show, Like Always
By Wendell Minnick (Whiskey Mike) 顏文德
TAIPEI - With U.S. Green Berets, SEALs, Marine Raiders (MARSOC) bumping into scrawny English teachers around the island, one wonders if Australia’s special operation forces are missing out?
The U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) has deployed “commandos” to Taiwan as “observers” and not necessarily “trainers”, or as they insist on saying to me repeatedly.
All are in Taiwan using a policy loophole that allows the U.S. military to get access to areas that are uncomfortable for U.S. State Department dictates, but at the same time allow the U.S. military to mingle with local forces in areas that might become critical for U.S. national security.
It is known in U.S. military nomenclature as TDYs (Temporary Duty Travel) and allows U.S. military personnel to live and work in another country for 180 days until they have to go on a “pizza run” to a U.S. military facility and clock-in.
Normally, they fill out reports and give briefings before they turn around and fly back to Taiwan. Most of these flights are to Okinawa (at least for the 1st Special Forces Group, aka Green Berets), but could include any U.S. base anywhere in the world.
Overall, including other types of TDY personnel on the ground in Taiwan working with the army, air force, navy, coast guard, electronic warfare, etc., the number is around 1,000 personnel. This number is based on the number of rooms booked at two hotels for 2024 by the U.S. de facto embassy, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT).
So is Australia missing an opportunity to meet and greet Taiwan special operation forces, Tier 1/2 military leaders at the Ministry of National Defense (MND), and not participating in this “observation” opportunity when the balloon goes up when China makes a push into Australia’s backyard?
Australia’s special operation forces have participated in U.S. misadventures in Afghanistan and Iraq, and if you want to go back further - Vietnam.
Taiwan is not about terrorism or Communism per se.