Washington—Analysts suggest that the role of the U.S. Navy’s elite SEAL Team Six in Taiwan’s defense would be confined, following a report by the Financial Times that indicated the team has been preparing for over a year for such a scenario. Lyle J. Morris, a senior fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute’s Center for China Analysis, highlighted to VOA’s Mandarin Service that while this preparation suggests a deeper U.S. involvement in Taiwan’s defense, the SEALs’ participation would be targeted and precise.
Morris emphasized that the SEAL Team Six’s operations would be highly specific, potentially safeguarding critical infrastructure in Taiwan against a Chinese invasion. The team, known for its covert and lethal efficacy, could be deployed discreetly to secure key assets such as airfields or communication systems in Taipei.
SEAL Team Six is renowned for undertaking challenging and sensitive missions, including the 2009 rescue of MV Maersk, Alabama’s captain, from Somali pirates, and the 2011 raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound in Pakistan. This group is part of the prestigious Joint Special Operations Command, which includes other elite U.S. military units.
Richard D. Fisher Jr., from the International Assessment and Strategy Center, explained that SEALs typically operate from submarines or small ships, focusing on exploiting enemy vulnerabilities. The revelation of their training for Taiwan’s defense might serve as a strategic deterrent to Beijing, which has shown increasing assertiveness in the region.
According to Morris, this disclosure could be a tactical move to enhance deterrence against China and make Beijing reconsider any potential invasion plans. Dennis Wilder, a former CIA military analyst and senior fellow at Georgetown University, noted on social media that such preparations would likely provoke a strong reaction from Beijing.
In contrast, Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, reiterated China’s stance on Taiwan, urging the U.S. to adhere to the one-China principle and to cease military engagements with Taiwan. He condemned any support for Taiwan’s independence as a violation of China’s core interests.
The Taiwan issue remains a sensitive subject. The island has developed into a robust democracy since splitting from China in 1949, a status Beijing does not recognize. The U.S. maintains a policy of strategic ambiguity toward Taiwan, ensuring support through arms sales and opposing unilateral changes to the status quo, as outlined in the Taiwan Relations Act and related agreements.
While the Pentagon declined to confirm details of the SEAL Team Six’s activities, spokesperson John Supple emphasized the U.S.’s preparation for various contingencies under its long-standing one-China policy. This includes commitments outlined in the Taiwan Relations Act, the Three Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances, highlighting a non-endorsement yet acknowledgment of Beijing’s claims over Taiwan.
Reports from last year indicated an expansion in U.S. military training efforts with Taiwan, both within the island and in the United States, signaling ongoing support for Taiwan’s defense capabilities.