United States Taiwan Defense Command
Encyclopedia
The United States Taiwan Defense Command was a sub-unified command of the United States armed forces
. It was originally formed as the Formosa Liaison Center (founded in 1955 after the signature of the US-Taiwan Mutual Defense Pact
of December 1954 and the first Straits crisis of Sept. 1954). In November 1955, the FLC become the Taiwan Defense Command. The command reported directly to the Commander-in-Chief Pacific
(CINCPAC). The command was composed of personnel from all branches of the U.S. armed forces and had its headquarters in Taipei. The first commander of the USTDC was Alfred M. Pride
(command of the U.S. Seventh Fleet).
USTDC was a planning headquarters for the defense of Taiwan and the Pescadores. In the event of hostilities, the USTDC commander would have coordinated with the Government of the Republic of China in the defense of Taiwan and the Pescadores. In the event of such a contingency, three existing service commanders would have reported to the U.S. Taiwan Defense Command commander. The 327th Air Division
commander would be the air component commander, the Taiwan Patrol Force commander would be the naval component commander (the Taiwan Patrol Force being drawn from the United States Seventh Fleet
), and the Chief of the Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) would be the Army component commander. The 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Thirteenth Air Force
, at Clark Air Base
in the Philippines
had reinforcement air defence functions for Taiwan for a period.
In May 1967, Carlos Talbott
of the U.S. Air Force became chief of staff of the command. In September 1970, Clarence J. Douglas, also of the Air Force, assumed duties as chief of staff.
The Command held its final flag retreat ceremony during the afternoon of 26 April 1979. Rear Admiral James P. Linder was the last military officer to depart Taiwan on 28 April 1979.
The former site of the USTDC headquarter became the Taipei Fine Arts Museum
in 1983.
United States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
. It was originally formed as the Formosa Liaison Center (founded in 1955 after the signature of the US-Taiwan Mutual Defense Pact
Sino-American Mutual Defense Treaty
Sino-American Mutual Defense Treaty was a treaty between the United States of America and the Republic of China; it was signed on December 2, 1954 at the Zhongshan Hall in Taipei and came into force on March 3, 1955...
of December 1954 and the first Straits crisis of Sept. 1954). In November 1955, the FLC become the Taiwan Defense Command. The command reported directly to the Commander-in-Chief Pacific
United States Pacific Command
The United States Pacific Command is a Unified Combatant Command of the United States armed forces responsible for the Pacific Ocean area. It is led by the Commander, Pacific Command , who is the supreme military authority for the various branches of the Armed Forces of the United States serving...
(CINCPAC). The command was composed of personnel from all branches of the U.S. armed forces and had its headquarters in Taipei. The first commander of the USTDC was Alfred M. Pride
Alfred M. Pride
Alfred Melville Pride was a United States Navy admiral and pioneer Naval aviator, who distinguished himself during World War II as an aircraft-carrier commander....
(command of the U.S. Seventh Fleet).
USTDC was a planning headquarters for the defense of Taiwan and the Pescadores. In the event of hostilities, the USTDC commander would have coordinated with the Government of the Republic of China in the defense of Taiwan and the Pescadores. In the event of such a contingency, three existing service commanders would have reported to the U.S. Taiwan Defense Command commander. The 327th Air Division
327th Air Division
The 327th Airlift Division is an inactive United States Air Force air division. It was assigned to Pacific Air Forces' Thirteenth Air Force throughout its existence. It was last stationed at Taipei AS, Taiwan...
commander would be the air component commander, the Taiwan Patrol Force commander would be the naval component commander (the Taiwan Patrol Force being drawn from the United States Seventh Fleet
United States Seventh Fleet
The Seventh Fleet is the United States Navy's permanent forward projection force based in Yokosuka, Japan, with units positioned near Japan and South Korea. It is a component fleet force under the United States Pacific Fleet. At present, it is the largest of the forward-deployed U.S. fleets, with...
), and the Chief of the Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) would be the Army component commander. The 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Thirteenth Air Force
Thirteenth Air Force
The Thirteenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Hickam Air Force Base on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. 13 AF has never been stationed in the continental United States...
, at Clark Air Base
Clark Air Base
Clark Air Base is a former United States Air Force base on Luzon Island in the Philippines, located 3 miles west of Angeles City, about 40 miles northwest of Metro Manila. Clark Air Base was an American military facility from 1903 to 1991...
in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
had reinforcement air defence functions for Taiwan for a period.
In May 1967, Carlos Talbott
Carlos Talbott
Carlos Maurice Talbott was a United States Air Force officer who attained the rank of lieutenant general and was vice commander in chief of the Pacific Air Forces, headquartered at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii....
of the U.S. Air Force became chief of staff of the command. In September 1970, Clarence J. Douglas, also of the Air Force, assumed duties as chief of staff.
The Command held its final flag retreat ceremony during the afternoon of 26 April 1979. Rear Admiral James P. Linder was the last military officer to depart Taiwan on 28 April 1979.
The former site of the USTDC headquarter became the Taipei Fine Arts Museum
Taipei Fine Arts Museum
The Taipei Fine Arts Museum is a museum in Taipei, Taiwan. The museum first opened on December 24, 1983 at the former site of the United States Taiwan Defense Command . It was the first purpose built museum in Taiwan to host modern and contemporary art exhibitions...
in 1983.