US wants Taiwan to ‘serve as cannon fodder’ against mainland China: state media
Chinese state media has criticized recent comments by a US official regarding Taiwan's defense strategy, labeling the US approach as treating Taiwan as 'cannon fodder.' The commentary argues that the US is encouraging Taiwan to act as a battlefield to wear down mainland China.
Why it matters
This highlights the escalating geopolitical tensions and the conflicting narratives between Washington and Beijing regarding Taiwan's security.
“Separatists” and the United States are putting Taiwan in greater danger, mainland China’s state broadcaster has warned, days after Washington’s de facto ambassador to the self-ruled island said it only needed to convince a potential adversary that landing forces would be very difficult.
“Taiwan doesn’t need to demonstrate that it can win a war outright,” Raymond Greene, director of the American Institute in Taiwan, said in a keynote address at the 2026 Taipei Security Dialogue on Wednesday.
He added that Taiwan had unique strengths that could deter an attack, including uncrewed systems, mission command and societal resilience.
The island had collaborated with American companies to develop drones, battle-tested autonomous systems and other equipment, Greene noted.
“It simply needs to convince an adversary that it would struggle to successfully land a large ground force in heavily urbanised, mountainous terrain and sustain it across 90 miles [145km] of open, turbulent waters.
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