Taipei: Taiwan's military should decentralize its command and control structure, giving smaller frontline units more authority to shoot and move in the event of a conflict with China, a U.S. military affairs expert told CNA.

According to Focus Taiwan, Marvin Park, who served as director for Taiwan affairs on the U.S. National Security Council in 2023-2024 and as a naval attach© at the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) from 2016 to 2019, made the comments during an interview with CNA. Park highlighted that Taiwan has been adopting a strategy of "erosion" to rethink its defense strategies. However, he emphasized that the speed and complexity of modern warfare necessitate a reform in Taiwan's "very centralized" command and control structure. This would involve empowering frontline units and soldiers to make more decisions within their mission's parameters.

Park explained that the current training for U.S. soldiers involves a "shoot and scoot" strategy, which he believes Taiwan should also adopt. This approach discourages staying in one location for too long, as it increases vulnerability to Chinese surveillance through satellites, planes, and drones. He noted that this approach is especially relevant for the effective use of mobile anti-ship missiles that Taiwan has purchased from the U.S. in recent years.

Furthermore, Park stressed the importance of Taiwan's ability to domestically produce essential items like drones, bullets, and artillery. Unlike Ukraine, which can receive arms via land routes from Poland, Taiwan might face isolation in a conflict with China due to surrounding waters filled with mines and submarines. While producing advanced missiles during wartime may not be feasible, Park suggested that a domestic supply chain capable of producing 10,000 drones a month would significantly bolster Taiwan's defense capabilities.

Park, who is currently a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and senior vice president at the consulting firm American Global Strategies, emphasized the critical need for Taiwan to enhance its military resilience through decentralization and increased domestic production capabilities.