Rescue group prepping for potential Taiwan mission
A Nonprofit Organization Prepares for Rescue Missions in Taiwan and Mainland China
A nonprofit organization dedicated to saving Americans abroad whose lives are at risk is currently preparing for the possibility they may conduct rescue missions in Taiwan and mainland China ahead of a possible conflict.
China views the island of Taiwan as a rogue province and has threatened to take it by force, and while the U.S. does not recognize Taiwan’s independence, it also does not want to see any unilateral shift in the status quo. Beijing’s military modernization and nuclear expansion, plus its more aggressive posture toward Taiwan, have raised concerns that China could try to take Taiwan militarily in the coming years.
Project Dynamo: Rescuing Americans Worldwide
Project Dynamo is a nonprofit organization made up of former U.S. military and intelligence officials who came together in August 2021 to rescue Americans who were unable to leave Afghanistan before the military withdrew at the end of the month and were essentially left behind. Since then, they have continued their effort to rescue Americans that the U.S. military was not planning on saving at that time in countries across the world.
“I think the answer is maybe, or it depends,” Bryan Stern, a combat veteran and the founder of Project Dynamo, told the Washington Examiner when asked if they’d carry out rescue missions in mainland China as well as Taiwan. “I think it remains to be seen if Americans are stuck and we can get them out from wherever they are….”
He added, “There’s a lot more Americans in China than there are in Taiwan, even though there’s plenty in Taiwan. If you’re an American in China [when the war starts], it’s also going to be a crummy day. You know what I mean? It’s not just about Taiwan. Mainland China is pretty rough, too. The way we’re kind of conceptualizing it is what do we do for Americans that are in mainland China, where the Americans won’t be the most popular team in town on that day.”
Project Dynamo has coined the mission name “Marco Polo” for potential rescues in Taiwan and China. They have rescued more than 6,000 people from Afghanistan, Ukraine, Russia, Sudan, Israel, Gaza, Maui after the wildfires, and Florida after Hurricane Ian in the less than three years they’ve operated.
The group operates entirely on a donation basis and does not receive any government funding. The group does not want to interfere with any U.S. military or intelligence mission, so it asks the government if it can proceed with an operation beforehand, and in every case, Stern said, the administration gave the group the green light.
Tensions Between the U.S. and China
President Joe Biden met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in October in what was billed as a chance to simmer the growing tension between the two adversaries. The leaders agreed to restart military-to-military communications after Beijing cut them off in August of last year in response to then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) visit to Taiwan. Gen. Charles Q. Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met virtually with his Chinese counterpart, Gen. Liu Zhenli, last week, ending that freeze about two months after the leaders’ meeting.
“[Xi told Biden] that Beijing will reunify Taiwan with mainland China but that the timing has not yet been decided,” NBC News reported, citing three sources familiar with the conversation. “Chinese officials also asked in advance of the summit that Biden make a public statement after the meeting saying that the United States supports China’s goal of peaceful unification with Taiwan and does not support Taiwanese independence.”
Biden did not follow through with the request.
Xi said at last year’s Chinese Communist Party Congress that they would attack Taiwan if the island nation of roughly 24 million people declares independence with foreign support.
Biden has said multiple times during his administration that the U.S. military would defend Taiwan if China invaded, which would represent a shift in U.S. policy, but the White House has walked back his comments each time.
What are the potential challenges and risks that Project Dynamo may face during rescue missions in Taiwan and mainland China?
Fall of 2021. The organization operates on the principle that no American should be left behind in times of crisis, and they are now actively preparing for the possibility of conducting rescue missions in Taiwan and mainland China.
The tension between China and Taiwan has been a long-standing issue, with China asserting its claim over the island and viewing it as a rogue province. The possibility of a military conflict between the two nations has raised concerns worldwide. The United States, while not recognizing Taiwan’s independence, is also not in favor of any unilateral change in the status quo. China’s military modernization, nuclear expansion, and more aggressive posture towards Taiwan have heightened fears that China may attempt to take Taiwan by force in the near future.
In the midst of these escalating tensions, Project Dynamo is gearing up to rescue Americans who may find themselves in harm’s way in both Taiwan and mainland China. Comprised of former U.S. military and intelligence officials, the organization was founded in August 2021 in response to the crisis in Afghanistan. Their initial mission was to rescue Americans who were unable to leave the country before the military withdrawal. Since then, they have expanded their efforts to rescue Americans in various countries across the world where the U.S. military was not planning on intervening.
Bryan Stern, the founder of Project Dynamo, acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding potential rescue missions in China. When asked about the organization’s plans, he remarked, “I think the answer is maybe, or it depends. I think it remains to be seen if Americans are stuck and we can get them out from wherever they are.” He emphasized the challenging situation Americans may face in mainland China, stating, ”If you’re an American in China [when the war starts], it’s also going to be a crummy day. It’s not just about Taiwan. Mainland China is pretty rough too.” Stern emphasized that the organization is conceptualizing ways to assist Americans in mainland China during a crisis when they may not be welcomed with open arms.
Project Dynamo has named their potential rescue mission in Taiwan and China as “Marco Polo.” This mission builds on their successful efforts to rescue over 6,000 people from various crisis-stricken regions. From Afghanistan to Ukraine, Russia to Sudan, Israel to Gaza, as well as the aftermath of wildfires in Maui and the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in Florida, Project Dynamo has demonstrated its commitment to leaving no American behind.
As tensions in the Taiwan Strait continue to rise, the work of organizations like Project Dynamo becomes increasingly crucial. Their dedication to rescuing Americans abroad whose lives are at risk is commendable. Whether it be in Taiwan, mainland China, or any other conflict-ridden region, Project Dynamo’s mission is a shining example of the profound impact that nonprofit organizations can have in safeguarding the lives of individuals in perilous situations.
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