United States Taiwan Defense Command

United States Taiwan Defense Command

Badge of the USTDC
Active 1955－1979
Country  United States
Part of United States Pacific Command
Garrison/HQ  Taiwan
HSA Compound, Yuanshan, Taipei

The United States Taiwan Defense Command (USTDC; Chinese: 美軍協防台灣司令部; pinyin: Měijūn Xié Fáng Táiwān Sīlìng Bù) 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. From July 1968-September 1970 the chief of staff was Brigadier General John A. Des Portes, U.S.A.F. 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 headquarters became the Taipei Fine Arts Museum in 1983.

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References

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