Experts discuss the urgent need to defend Taiwan against Chinese threats, highlighting the dangers of a potential invasion. They emphasize the importance of deterrence strategies and the role of Taiwan in global semiconductor production. Recommendations include transforming Taiwan's military culture and enhancing defense capabilities with allies to counter China's maritime power.
Urgent military transformation in Taiwan is crucial for deterring Chinese invasion threats.
Taiwan's semiconductor industry dominance poses global economic risks if disrupted.
Japan's military readiness and strategic positioning are vital for deterring potential threats in the region.
Deep dives
Taiwan's Urgent Military Transformation
Taiwan is urged to focus on urgent military transformation for effective deterrence against potential invasion threats. The importance of rapid mobilization under fire and readiness for prolonged struggle is emphasized to build confidence in Taiwan's defense capabilities. Recommendations include internal reforms within the Ministry of National Defense, establishment of a territorial defense force, and collaboration with allies like the United States.
Semiconductor Dominance and Economic Impact
Taiwan's significant role in semiconductor production, especially advanced semiconductors, is highlighted, with over 90% of global production. The impact of a disruption in semiconductor supply on the global economy is discussed. The compounding economic effects of potential disruptions and dependencies on Taiwan's semiconductor industry are outlined.
Japan's Strategic Role and Path to Readiness
Japan is identified as a critical swing state for enhancing deterrence against potential threats. The need for Japan to address military readiness, joint operations, and professionalization of its military is emphasized. Recommendations include improving joint integrated operations, making military service a respected profession, and enhancing public and political awareness of national defense needs.
Key Military Capabilities Needed for Deterrence
The podcast discusses essential military capabilities needed for deterrence against China, focusing on key areas like US Navy submarines, long-range strike aircraft, and air and space munitions. It emphasizes the importance of leveraging US advantages in undersea, air, and space domains to isolate and defeat China's maritime power, a critical factor in any potential conflict involving Taiwan. The need for redundant and resilient satellite constellations for real-time target identification and communication pathways is highlighted as crucial for achieving strategic advantages while avoiding direct confrontation with China's long-range missile capabilities.
Challenges and Solutions in Strengthening Deterrence
The episode highlights the critical role of senior leadership in Washington and elsewhere in reinforcing US military capabilities and displaying strategic confidence to adversaries like China. It addresses the gap between verbal commitments to prioritize the Pacific region as a military focus and the lack of corresponding actions in terms of strategies, budgets, and resource allocation. Emphasizing the need for assertively demonstrating advantages to deter aggression, the podcast stresses the importance of making overdue decisions, investing in specific capabilities like munitions, and fostering public-private partnerships for cost-effective solutions to enhance deterrence and defense readiness.
The Hoover Project on China’s Global Sharp Power and Taiwan in the Indo-Pacific Region held The Boiling Moat event on Thursday, May 30, 2024 from 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm PT.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has openly expressed his intention to annex Taiwan to mainland China, even threatening the use of force. An invasion or blockade of Taiwan by Chinese forces would be catastrophic, with severe consequences for democracies worldwide. In The Boiling Moat, a new book from the Hoover Institution Press, Matt Pottinger and a team of scholars and distinguished military and political leaders urgently outline practical steps for deterrence. The authors stress that preventing a war is more affordable than waging one and emphasize the importance of learning from recent failures in deterrence, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Featuring Matt Pottinger, Distinguished Visiting Fellow, and Larry Diamond, William L. Clayton Senior Fellow. Pottinger and Diamond will be joined by contributors to TheBoiling Moatproject: Gabriel Collins, Andrew Erickson, Robert Haddick, Isaac Harris, Michael Hunzeker, Ivan Kanapathy, Mark Montgomery, and Grant Newsham.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode