US Army forms rapid-response units amid China-Taiwan tensions

The US Army is creating new highly mobile, multifunctional units aimed at countering a possible military conflict with China in the Indo-Pacific region.

Commander of US Army Pacific, General Ronald Clark stated that China’s increasingly assertive behavior—particularly regarding Taiwan—has shifted the regional security calculus, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Clark said that aggressive behavior from Beijing had become more pronounced and that threats to Taiwan were now a tangible part of military planning. He noted that China has conducted regular military exercises simulating a blockade of Taiwan, a scenario once considered improbable but now taken seriously by US defence planners.

The Army’s evolving posture includes preparing for a potential Chinese invasion across the Taiwan Strait. To meet this challenge, the US Army is transitioning to deploy highly agile, forward-positioned task forces capable of operating in contested zones—especially along the so-called “first island chain,” which includes Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines. These units are expected to carry out precision strikes, conduct intelligence operations, and support broader air and naval missions. 

A cornerstone of the strategy includes the deployment of advanced missile systems such as the Typhon, capable of hitting long-range targets deep within enemy territory. One such system was deployed to the Philippines last year, sparking official protests from Beijing. General Clark emphasised the need for American forces to be pre-positioned in the region. He said that US forces needed to be on the ground before a conflict began. 

As part of that strategy, joint exercises with regional allies have intensified. During the recent Balikatan drills in the Philippines, US, Filipino, and Australian troops practiced coastal defense scenarios, simulating the repulsion of a maritime invasion using a variety of assets, from drones to HIMARS rocket artillery systems.

By Naila Huseynova