Building Partner Capacity for Unconventional Deterrence: A Systems Approach for Asymmetric Defense in Taiwan
Abstract
Building partner capacity (BPC) is a vital strategic tool for the U.S. to compete with great power adversaries and deter aggression against partners and allies. But security partnerships and alliances are unique and complex adaptive systems; they display certain characteristics at the local level that lead to non-linear, system-wide emergent properties over time. Currently, the Joint Force and SOF enterprise lack a systems-based approach to develop and implement effective BPC strategies for great power competition (GPC).This thesis presents a systems approach to trilateral relationship between Taiwan, China, and the U.S. in order to develop a common framework for BPC in the context of deterrence and GPC. Conventional deterrence by punishment strategies for Taiwan focus primarily on high-end arms sales, but an unconventional deterrence by denial strategy focused on civil resilience, and threats of organized resistance could deter China by rendering its relative military superiority irrelevant and protracting a fait accompli indefinitely. The Asymmetric Warfare Groups (AWG) advisory support in Taiwan as well as the Resistance Operating Concept (ROC) and NATO-SOFs Comprehensive Defence Handbook provide ready-made frameworks to build Taiwans capacity for resilience, resistance, and asymmetric defense. Additionally, strategic communication and deception through a continued policy of strategic ambiguity are essential elements to achieve this strategy.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1165031
Entities
People
- John B Waits
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School