Taipei: A retired U.S. Navy rear admiral has expressed approval for Taiwan's mobilization of over 20,000 reservists during its annual Han Kuang military exercises this year. This development marks a significant move towards enhancing Taiwan's defense capabilities, according to the former military official.
According to Focus Taiwan, retired Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery described the involvement of more than 20,000 reservists as a "great first step" in addressing one of Taiwan's crucial defense challenges. Montgomery, who retired in 2017 and now serves as senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies, emphasized the importance of Taiwan redesigning its active duty-reserve balance to maximize the effectiveness of its reservists.
Defense Minister Wellington Koo confirmed that up to 22,000 reservists participated in this year's 10-day exercises, representing the highest number in the drill's history. Montgomery, however, noted that the Han Kuang drills remained predominantly Taiwan-centric, with limited international collaboration. He suggested the need for joint military exercises involving the United States to enhance Taiwan's defense posture.
Montgomery advocated for the integration of U.S. naval forces, along with Air Force and ground troops, into the Han Kuang drills. He pointed out that the Taiwan Enhanced Resilience Act of 2023, passed by the U.S. Congress over two years ago, directed the Department of Defense to increase military exercises with Taiwan. The retired admiral emphasized the importance of developing interoperability between U.S. and Taiwanese military forces to deter potential actions by the Chinese Communist Party.
Montgomery also reflected on the potential response of the U.S. under President Donald Trump's administration, suggesting that the U.S. would intervene if the CCP attempted to coerce Taiwan into unification or compromise its sovereignty. He believes that Taiwan's security aligns with U.S. national interests.
Furthermore, Montgomery commented on Taiwan's decision to increase its defense spending to 3 percent of its GDP, considering it sufficient for the current year. However, he proposed a target of 5 percent by the end of President Lai Ching-te's administration.
Montgomery is set to visit Taiwan at the end of July to participate in war games organized by the Research Institute for Democracy, Society and Emerging Technology in Taipei. The simulation will focus on an energy-based economic warfare scenario, combined with cyberattacks, to assess Taiwan's power grid vulnerabilities and explore ways to prevent disruptions to its imported supply chain by the PLA or China's coastguard.