TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — William A. Stanton, a former director of the American Institute in Taiwan, on Monday recommended that Taiwan lengthen its conscription to two years.
Speaking at a table top exercise being held from March 3-5, Stanton said Taiwan should minimize internal political divisions, per Liberty Times. Stanton stressed that amid rising cross-strait tensions, “now is not the time for political maneuvering.”
Stanton said that given the potential threats Taiwan faces, it would be more appropriate if Taiwan implemented two-year mandatory military service. He said Taiwan should focus on strengthening its armed forces.
He also advised Taiwan to leverage its leadership in the semiconductor industry to garner more global support.
Regarding the heated exchange between Trump and Zelensky during their meeting in the Oval Office on Friday, Stanton said that in his 34-year diplomatic career, no one has ever been commended for berating a high-level foreign guest. He expressed disappointment over the way Zelensky was treated.
When asked whether Taiwan would be the next Ukraine, Stanton pointed out that Secretary of State Rubio has expressed strong support for Taiwan, but Trump has refused to take a stance on the Taiwan issue. He speculated that Trump understands the need to manage relations with China's leadership and may have strategic considerations.
Stanton emphasized that a free and democratic country like Taiwan deserves US support.
KMT Legislator Chen Yeong-kang (陳永康) said that the situations in Taiwan and Ukraine are completely different. Chen said Ukraine's battlefield strategies may not be replicable in Taiwan but that the nation should learn from the Ukrainian military's struggles.
Taiwan Center for Security Studies Director Liu Fu-kuo (劉復國) said that during recent international meetings, the tabletop exercise team observed that faced with the uncertainty of the Trump administration’s "America First" approach, other countries have instead become motivated to enhance communication and cooperation with each other.
Liu explained that the exercise primarily focused on geopolitical changes following Trump's inauguration and included a preliminary assessment of China's gray-zone tactics against Taiwan. The discussions will also explore whether security measures for undersea cables should be heightened.
In addition, the wargame will simulate a scenario in which the Chinese military transitions from drills to actual combat, exploring how to prepare and respond from military, national security, diplomatic, and economic perspectives.
