American forces believe that a war on the territory may happen in the next three years. In this case, the United States is obligated to defend the small territory
SEAL Team 6 is accustomed to working in scenarios that soon become films. Those who follow film festivals remember “00:30: Hour of Darkness” or “Captain Phillips,” which portrayed, respectively, the operation that culminated in the death of Osama Bin Laden and the rescue of Captain Richard Phillips, who was taken hostage by Somali pirates.
Now, this team of the U.S. Navy has a new mission: to prepare for potential assistance to Taiwan in the event of an invasion by China, a possibility that the small island increasingly deems likely.
According to the Financial Times, this clandestine unit, which is regularly assigned the most difficult and sensitive operations, has been planning and training for a conflict in Taiwan for more than a year at Dam Neck, in Virginia Beach, on the east coast of the United States.
This preparation confirms that a possible Chinese incursion into Taiwan is, more and more, a genuine concern for the United States, which has remained firm in deterring Beijing and in the message that they will not leave that territory unprotected, especially since, despite being a small island, it plays host to an important trade route that Washington D.C. does not want to see fall into Chinese hands.
This concern became more pronounced after the commander of U.S. forces in the Indo-Pacific, Phil Davidson, stated in 2021 that this invasion could occur within the next six years, within a timeframe that is closing soon.
Even admitting that this conflict is “not imminent nor inevitable,” the forces of the United States decided to accelerate all preparations to respond to any action by the People’s Liberation Army. And this would always have to involve the Navy, especially since China holds the most naval power in the world.
For this reason, it was decided to involve SEAL Team 6, an elite military unit, in these operations, alongside Delta Force.
Nothing is known about the operations and scenarios being drawn up. The United States has sent several special forces to missions in Taiwan in recent years, but the involvement of SEAL Team 6 adds another level of secrecy. From the Pentagon, and according to information provided by Special Operations Command, it is only known that this unit is “preparing and training for a series of contingencies.”
In a tense diplomatic dispute, China continues to claim that it aims for a “peaceful reunification,” which implies the total integration of the territories of Taiwan and Hong Kong. In the case of Taiwan, the United States has an obligation, through a military agreement, to protect the island.