Ukraine’s moves against Russia show Taiwan "asymmetric" weapons work - US official

Ukraine’s countermoves against Russia’s larger military show Taiwan that possessing advanced “asymmetric” weapons and a determination to resist invasion by a larger neighbour can be a successful combination, according to a senior US State Department official.

“One of the things that everyone is thinking about when it comes to Taiwan, and I think a lesson learned from this war, is that asymmetric works,” Jessica Lewis, assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs, said on July 13 at a Center for International and Strategic Studies event on US security assistance to Ukraine, according to Bloomberg.

Lewis said Ukraine’s use of US-provided Javelin anti-tank systems and Stinger anti-aircraft weapons - considered asymmetric because they can help a smaller force battle a stronger opponent - hold lessons for the defence of Taiwan, which China has threatened with invasion.

Pointing out that US officials have long studied how Taiwan should prepare for a potential Chinese assault, Lewis said defenders against a numerically more powerful invasion force require more than advanced weapons. She said it’s important not to “over-compare” the situations in Ukraine and Taiwan but crucial to look for lessons learned.

“For a long time, when it comes to Taiwan, we’ve been looking at this question, you know: What does an asymmetric defence and preparing yourself look like?” she said. “It’s not just a matter of whether you have a Stinger or a Javelin. What we’ve seen from the Ukrainians is you have a population that was trained, willing and able to fight.”

Taiwan, a self-ruled democracy, has worked alongside the US to acquire asymmetric weapons in the face of threats by China, which claims the separately governed island as part of its territory.