Original Source
Ex-Trump Aide: 'Two Lessons Japan Must Learn from Iran War'
Lessons from Iran War and Taiwan's Defense
Matt Pottinger, who served as Deputy National Security Advisor under the Donald Trump administration, highlighted two lessons for Japan from the Iran War. First, he noted that air power alone is rarely sufficient to achieve regime change. The Iranian regime withstood bombings from the world's strongest air force, the U.S., and the Middle East's strongest, Israel, maintaining its power. Pottinger suggested this fact could encourage Taiwan in its defense against a Chinese invasion. He stressed that if the Taiwanese military can thwart a large-scale landing and prepare for bombings, including plans for government continuity during wartime, its democratic government could survive.
Importance of Maritime Security and Stockpiling Supplies
As the second lesson, Pottinger emphasized the significance of affordable and mass-deployable anti-ship weapons. Iran successfully blockaded the Strait of Hormuz for weeks, impeding even the world's most powerful navy, the U.S. This indicates that Japan and Taiwan could possess means to keep Chinese naval vessels away from their coasts. Concurrently, it reveals the reality that China could disrupt the transport of critical supplies during wartime. Therefore, Pottinger advised Japan and Taiwan to strengthen their stockpiles of essential goods and energy, and establish state-led shipping systems to ensure material transport even during conflict.
*Source: Yahoo!ニュース (2026-04-22)*
