Taipei: The Ministry of National Defense (MND) seemed surprised Monday by a Democratic Progressive Party lawmaker's suggestion that Taiwan's military could support the United States in mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Focus Taiwan, the idea was presented by Legislator Wang Ting-yu at a legislative committee hearing. He mentioned that U.S. President Donald Trump had expressed dissatisfaction with allies for not dispatching forces to assist with mine-clearing operations in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. With this in mind, Wang questioned whether Taiwan's military should express its willingness to support such efforts.
Vice Defense Minister Hsu Szu-chien responded to the suggestion by acknowledging the creativity of the idea but noted that it had not been considered. National Security Bureau Director-General Tsai Ming-yen described the issue as "hypothetical," explaining that Taiwan's situation differs from that of other U.S. allies. He emphasized that any troop deployment would require an assessment of threats facing Taiwan, adding complexity to the decision-making process.
Hsu highlighted logistical, supply, and operational support as key concerns. He noted that the Navy's minehunter vessels are relatively small and might not be able to reach the Strait of Hormuz. Additionally, due to constant harassment from Chinese naval vessels, Taiwan's Navy has significant responsibilities in its own waters, making any deployment of mine countermeasure capabilities abroad a matter requiring careful evaluation.
It remains unclear what prompted Wang's suggestion. However, he also inquired at the hearing whether the Navy's mine-clearing capacity was sufficient for Taiwan's own needs. In response, Navy Chief of Staff Chu Hui-min stated that efforts are ongoing to address the issue.