Pottinger urges Taiwan to view CCP promises skeptically — Taipei Times
In Taipei, Taiwan, former US deputy national security adviser Matt Pottinger urged Taiwanese people to focus their skepticism on the promises of the Chinese Communist Party rather than on relations with the United States. Taipei Times reports.
Pottinger, who now heads the research and consulting firm Garnut Global, delivered a keynote speech at the Resilient Taiwan for Sustainable Democracy 2026 international forum, organized by Taiwan's Presidential Office. He called skepticism toward the United States and skepticism toward Taiwan itself myths, saying attention should be paid to the CCP's promises.
Defense and drones
According to Pottinger, during previous visits to Taiwan he repeatedly urged the authorities to urgently strengthen defense capabilities and resilience. He said that, in his view, Taiwan's current administration is heeding these recommendations.
As examples, he cited the updated format of the annual Han Kuang military exercises, urban resilience drills, and a sharp increase in drone production. According to Pottinger, Taiwan exported 3,000 drones in 2024, and this figure is expected to increase one hundredfold by the end of 2026. He added that Taiwan has laid the groundwork to become a significant player in the unmanned systems industry.
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Disinformation claims
Pottinger also said that Beijing and Moscow are cooperating in a social media disinformation campaign amplified by platform algorithms. According to him, the campaign is intended to spread skepticism toward Taiwan and the United States and undermine both countries.
In his view, Taiwanese people should critically assess China's ability to fulfill its own promises. As an example, he mentioned the suppression of freedoms in Hong Kong and the imprisonment of media freedom advocate Jimmy Lai and activist Joshua Wong, despite Beijing's promise not to change Hong Kong's democratic system for 50 years after the territory's handover. Pottinger also mentioned the imprisonment of former pro-democracy Macau lawmaker Au Kam San following a secret trial.
He referred to former US President Franklin Roosevelt as an ally of the Republic of China in the fight against tyranny and urged people not to allow doubts to weaken Taiwan's confidence in its own achievements, defense and resilience.
