The United States has significantly expanded its military collaboration with Taiwan, marking a historic shift in defense posture. Under the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), U.S. Army Special Forces—specifically Green Berets from the 1st Special Forces Group, 2nd Battalion, Alpha Company—have been stationed at Taiwanese Army amphibious command centers in Kinmen and Penghu. This deployment represents the first enduring U.S. military presence on the island in over four decades.
Green Beret Teams and Forward Positioning
These Special Forces units are conducting continuous joint training missions with Taiwan’s elite 101st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion and Airborne Special Service Company. Their collaboration focuses on enhancing Taiwan’s defensive capabilities, particularly in amphibious operations and reconnaissance. A notable aspect of this partnership is the training on the Black Hornet Nano, a compact military unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The U.S. has assisted in developing operational guidelines and training manuals for this drone, and Taiwan’s Aviation and Special Forces Command has proposed acquiring it through military sales channels.
The Special Operations Forces Liaison Element (SOFLE) has been operating from a base in Taoyuan’s Longtan District since last year, coordinating all U.S. special operations activities in Taiwan. This setup includes overseeing high-value equipment and training resources temporarily stationed on the island.
The strategic positioning of U.S. forces on Kinmen, merely six miles from mainland China, underscores the heightened tensions in the Taiwan Strait. The Kinmen Islands are clearly visible from Xiamen, a port city in Eastern China, highlighting the proximity and potential flashpoints in the region.
Taiwan’s Longest-Ever Han Kuang Exercises
In response to increasing Chinese military activities, Taiwan has launched its longest-ever 10-day live-fire Han Kuang military drills. These exercises aim to fortify potential invasion points and simulate anti-landing scenarios, involving over 22,000 reservists and regular troops. The drills utilize advanced weaponry like Abrams M1A2T tanks and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) supplied by the U.S.
In a sign of growing tension, China criticized the drills and retaliated by imposing export controls on eight Taiwanese military-linked firms, underscoring Beijing’s sensitivity to deepening U.S.–Taiwan military ties.
Strategic Framework: Taiwan’s 2025 Defense Review
Taiwan’s 2025 Quadrennial Defense Review outlines concrete plans to strengthen U.S. military cooperation. It emphasizes:
- Expanded high-level strategic dialogues
- Intelligence-sharing protocols
- Joint tabletop exercises
- Enhanced interoperability for battlefield command, long-range precision strikes, and reconnaissance
Expert Insight: Leveraging American Expertise
Defense strategy expert Su Tzu-yun from the Institute for National Defense and Security Research emphasized the strategic value of this collaboration. He noted that the integration of U.S. Green Berets with Taiwan’s specialized amphibious reconnaissance units enhances the island’s capabilities to counter enemy incursions, with activities spanning critical locations, including Kinmen, Matsu, Penghu, and the Tamsui River estuary.
A Turning Point in Indo-Pacific Military Dynamics
This deepening military cooperation between the U.S. and Taiwan signifies a robust commitment to regional security and a strategic counterbalance to increasing Chinese assertiveness.
For the first time since the late 1970s, the United States has troops on Taiwan in a long term status—not as a symbolic show of support, but as operational assets helping to train, advise, and prepare for the most dangerous scenarios the island might face.