Former US Official: China's Gray Zone Operations Require Joint US-Taiwan Response
A former US Pentagon official emphasized the need for the US and Taiwan to jointly address China's "gray zone" operations against Taiwan. These operations, in addition to cognitive warfare, refer to actions that could trigger crises in the short to medium term. The official highlighted the importance of strengthening Taiwan's defense capabilities, drawing lessons from conflicts like the war in Ukraine and those in the Middle East.
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- 📰 Published: May 7, 2026 at 09:23
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Liao Han-yuan, New York, 6th exclusive report) Former Pentagon official Ely Ratner stated today at a seminar on Taiwan Strait conflict analysis held in Washington that in addition to cognitive warfare, the Chinese Communist Party's "gray zone" operations are a method that could be employed in the short to medium term. Both the US and Taiwan must be prepared to face actions such as interception and alternative invasions that could trigger crises.
Former US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, Ely Ratner, shared his views on recent international conflicts and changes in the Taiwan Strait situation at the "China Challenge, Taiwan Perspective" series seminar at the AI+Expo held in Washington.
Ratner believes that China is trying to convince leaders, elites, and the public in Taiwan and Washington of a fatalistic narrative: that war will eventually happen, China will annex Taiwan, and the US and Taiwan do not need to strengthen their defense resilience. He asked, "Is this inevitable? The answer is no."
"Over the past five years to several years, the most important change has been the US strengthening its own combat capabilities, operational concepts, military deployments, and alliances, as well as Taiwan's efforts to enhance its resilience. People might see the inevitable combat advantage of the PLA, but that is not necessarily the case now. Mid-term and future deterrence can be maintained," Ratner said.
From the Russia-Ukraine war, the Gaza conflict, to the US and Israel's military actions against Iran, new equipment and traditional war concepts coexist, also providing inspiration for the Taiwan Strait situation.
Ratner said that China is closely studying conflicts such as the Ukraine war and the US-Iran conflicts, with many aspects worth in-depth study at the operational, strategic, and political levels. The Ukraine war is a case of a smaller force challenging a larger one, and the US-Iran situation is similar. In some areas, Taiwan should study the tactics of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, including controlling maritime power, troop resilience, and mobility.
He emphasized that it is now necessary not only to shift attention to cognitive warfare but also to pay attention to potential, unprecedented, high-level "gray zone" activities.
Ratner analyzed that the US government has previously envisioned many (Taiwan Strait) hypothetical scenarios, and "gray zone" operations should be the Chinese Communist Party's approach that could be seen in the short to medium term. Both the US and Taiwan must ensure they are prepared to face situations such as interception, alternative invasions, withdrawal, and stalemate, all of which could trigger crises. (Edited by Chang Chih-hsuan) 1150507
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(Central News Agency reporter Liao Han-yuan, New York, 6th exclusive report) Former Pentagon official Ely Ratner stated today at a seminar on Taiwan Strait conflict analysis held in Washington that in addition to cognitive warfare, the Chinese Communist Party's "gray zone" operations are a method that could be employed in the short to medium term. Both the US and Taiwan must be prepared to face actions such as interception and alternative invasions that could trigger crises.
Former US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, Ely Ratner, shared his views on recent international conflicts and changes in the Taiwan Strait situation at the "China Challenge, Taiwan Perspective" series seminar at the AI+Expo held in Washington.
Ratner believes that China is trying to convince leaders, elites, and the public in Taiwan and Washington of a fatalistic narrative: that war will eventually happen, China will annex Taiwan, and the US and Taiwan do not need to strengthen their defense resilience. He asked, "Is this inevitable? The answer is no."
"Over the past five years to several years, the most important change has been the US strengthening its own combat capabilities, operational concepts, military deployments, and alliances, as well as Taiwan's efforts to enhance its resilience. People might see the inevitable combat advantage of the PLA, but that is not necessarily the case now. Mid-term and future deterrence can be maintained," Ratner said.
From the Russia-Ukraine war, the Gaza conflict, to the US and Israel's military actions against Iran, new equipment and traditional war concepts coexist, also providing inspiration for the Taiwan Strait situation.
Ratner said that China is closely studying conflicts such as the Ukraine war and the US-Iran conflicts, with many aspects worth in-depth study at the operational, strategic, and political levels. The Ukraine war is a case of a smaller force challenging a larger one, and the US-Iran situation is similar. In some areas, Taiwan should study the tactics of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, including controlling maritime power, troop resilience, and mobility.
He emphasized that it is now necessary not only to shift attention to cognitive warfare but also to pay attention to potential, unprecedented, high-level "gray zone" activities.
Ratner analyzed that the US government has previously envisioned many (Taiwan Strait) hypothetical scenarios, and "gray zone" operations should be the Chinese Communist Party's approach that could be seen in the short to medium term. Both the US and Taiwan must ensure they are prepared to face situations such as interception, alternative invasions, withdrawal, and stalemate, all of which could trigger crises. (Edited by Chang Chih-hsuan) 1150507
Choose to stand with facts; every sponsorship you provide is a force for protecting press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.