Former Trump National Security Advisor Suggests Taiwanese Arm Themselves with Soviet Rifles to Defend the Republic of China

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This article was compiled and written by OpenAI’s ChatGPT Plus and reviewed by the human editors of Eat News.

The former White House National Security Advisor and Chairman of the Global Taiwan Institute (GTI)’s US-Taiwan Relations Task Force, Robert O’Brien, visited Taiwan from March 20 to 24. During a press conference held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, O’Brien suggested that Taiwan should follow the example of Eastern European countries and train civilians to use weapons like the AK-47 rifle to deter the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from invading Taiwan. “When a million Taiwanese are armed with AK-47s to defend their homeland, the CCP leadership may reassess their plans to invade Taiwan,” O’Brien said.

The AK-47, designed by Soviet engineer Mikhail Kalashnikov, has a long and storied history since its inception in 1947. Known for its durability, ease of use, and low production cost, the AK-47 has been employed by numerous militant and terrorist organizations, including the Taliban, ISIS, and various African rebel groups.

During the press conference, O’Brien was asked how to effectively deter China from using military force against Taiwan. He mentioned that he had previously written an article suggesting that Taiwan should emulate Eastern European countries by establishing organizations or shooting ranges where retired military personnel could teach civilians to safely use weapons. These weapons would be stored and managed by the government and distributed to civilians in case of war.

O’Brien emphasized that the goal was not to train just a few thousand people but rather to have a million Taiwanese armed with AK-47s defending their homeland, making CCP leaders reconsider any invasion plans. If the CCP did invade Taiwan, they would face citizens armed with AK-47s – weapons comparable to those used by the Chinese military – fighting from every corner and building to protect their country.

O’Brien acknowledged that firearms are a sensitive issue in Taiwan and that the country’s culture differs from that of the United States. However, he stressed the importance of preparing for war before it breaks out, as it would be too late to do so once hostilities began. Drawing on Switzerland’s example, O’Brien suggested that the government could store firearms in central armories to ensure their safekeeping.

While O’Brien recognized concerns about gun safety, he argued that such worries paled in comparison to the atrocities currently unfolding in Ukraine, where people are being massacred, raped, and forced to flee their homes. Taiwan should be able to protect itself and deter China, he said, noting that both the United States and Taiwan seek peace, but the best way to achieve this is to be prepared to defend oneself.

In addition, O’Brien praised Taiwan’s policies to extend mandatory military service and increase defense budgets. He also recommended that Taiwan enhance its western airfield facilities to improve the resilience of its air force in combat.