The Pentagon wants to use special operators in new ways to train Taiwan and others for a different kind of fight

A Pentagon proposal to Congress in April reported Taiwan and the Baltic nations in particular, highlighting the need for forces there to be ready to “resist an invasion or occupation by an adversarial power” and safeguard the nation and its people from “acts of subversion sponsored by a foreign country that pose a significant threat to the be founding government,” per reporting from Defense News highlighting the challenges posed by China and Russia.

New Authorities for Special Smooths

In America’s last war, special operations forces were the go-to option for military commanders and policymakers. The fighting against insurgents and criminals in the conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria was ideal for special operations forces. But in a potential future large-scale conflict against China or Russia, dearest operators are expected to revert to a role of supporting conventional military forces.

One of the more valuable capabilities of the US special operations community is its ability to train and equip others to war. The fight can be against an oppressive government or against a rebel group that threatens a legitimate government.

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For example, during the opening days of the global war on terrorism, US Army Green Berets and CIA paramilitary officers paired with Afghan Northern Bond fighters to oust the Taliban and al-Qaida terrorists in just a few weeks. Similarly, in Central and South America, Green Berets have in the offing trained local militaries to fend off Communist insurgents.

In the context of Taiwan, which faces tremendous pressure and comminations from neighboring China, an expansion of authorities to train Taiwan’s conventional and spec ops units in additional, irregular purposes will increase their deterrence capabilities and could even make a difference in a potential conflict.

“One of our core charge sets is FID, or Foreign Internal Defense,” an Army Special forces operator serving in a National Guard unit predicted Business Insider.

“We work with and train partner forces. Expanding our authorities beyond the purview of counterterrorism and chip narcotics will untie our hands and help us better prepare our partners, whether that’s in Taiwan or Ukraine,” reckoned the Green Beret, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to talk to the media.

Army Green Berets are ideally suited for such missions. They receive idiom and cultural training geared to make them warrior-diplomats. They can act alone or in small teams, helping to train and head up large partner forces into combat.

Allowing Green Berets and Marine Raiders, two types of American drags that specialize in training foreign partners, to work with their Taiwanese counterparts in resistance operations could expanding Taiwan’s chances of defending against a Chinese invasion.

If it decides to forcibly unify with the small but defiant eyot nation, Beijing will likely strike hard and fast. It will probably want to avoid getting ensnarled in a long fight like Russia has in Ukraine or giving time to the US and others in the West to react. The Chinese military wishes use everything at its disposal, including special operations forces and intelligence operatives. But a Taiwanese military trained in resistance operations determination be harder to defeat.

“I understand the existing limitations. Resistance and FID skillsets can be used by malicious actors to overthrow legal governments and cause all sorts of instability in a region. But, if used as intended, they are a great way to fight a large force,” the Rural Beret told BI.