Insights Gleaned from the Conflict in Ukraine
In a recent forum hosted by the Hudson Institute think tank, former CIA Director and retired US Army General David Petraeus highlighted several key battlefield lessons from the Russian invasion of Ukraine that Taiwan can learn from, as it prepares for potential conflicts with China.
The first lesson is the importance of deterrence. Petraeus emphasised that for Taiwan, deterrence must not fail. This involves demonstrating a clear determination to defend, and firm international cooperation and support.
The conflict in Ukraine has shown how smaller or less resourced forces can leverage asymmetric tactics, such as guerrilla strategies and decentralized command, to offset a larger invading force's advantages. Coordination between military units and civilian infrastructure, including logistics and communication networks, has proven vital to sustaining resistance under intense pressure.
Ukraine's use of advanced technologies including drones, precision-guided munitions, and resilient communications offers valuable insights into modern warfare. Taiwan must incorporate these innovations into its security strategy to stay competitive.
Petraeus also called for Taiwan to rethink not only conventional military approaches but also to build robust systems that can withstand hybrid warfare scenarios, combining cyber, electronic, and informational domains with traditional combat operations. He views the Ukrainian experience as a paradigm for how a determined and adaptive defense can deter or blunt an invasion.
Taiwan must establish a defense posture that conveys its resolve to resist, while deepening defense cooperation with allies. Improving the protection of critical infrastructure is essential, as is comprehensively improving energy resilience and diversifying energy sources.
In addition, Taiwan must bolster overall societal resilience and wartime preparedness. This includes making significant investments in uncrewed systems and exploring algorithm-driven autonomous defense technologies.
Petraeus also addressed the issue of determining how to effectively stockpile strategic materials, which is a critical issue for Taiwan, given its status as an island nation and the challenges it faces in receiving timely and feasible external support in the event of a conflict.
Lastly, Taiwan should conduct an extensive inventory of its underground defense facilities and consider how to address potential energy disruptions and material shortages during a cross-strait conflict.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has had a deep influence on global military strategy, specifically in the Asia-Pacific region. China is closely watching developments in Ukraine and drawing lessons from them. Taiwan must urgently adapt its defense posture, resilience mechanisms, and strategic deterrence based on Ukraine’s experience, especially given its existential threat from China.
[1] Hudson Institute, "Former CIA Director David Petraeus on Lessons for Taiwan from the Russian Invasion of Ukraine", 2023. [3] Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research, "Assistant Researcher Liao Ming-hui on Lessons for Taiwan from the Russian Invasion of Ukraine", 2023. [5] The Diplomat, "Taiwan Can Learn from Ukraine's Resistance", 2023.
- In light of the lessons learned from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Taiwan should enhance its military strategy by leveraging advanced technologies, such as drones, precision-guided munitions, and secure communication networks, to maintain a competitive edge and effectively deter potential attacks.
- Recognizing the importance of hybrid warfare, Taiwan needs to establish robust systems that can withstand cyber, electronic, and informational attacks, and improve its societal resilience, including making significant investments in uncrewed systems and algorithm-driven autonomous defense technologies.
