As someone coming from a military family, I can say that NATO prepped the Ukrainian Army for over a year. As a consequence, the Ukrainian Army completely overhauled its military command structure. They went from the Soviet-style to the NATO-style of command structure. They gave more discretion to field command down to the non-com level. My nephew who was stationed out of Ft Huachuca training Delta Force was over there for 18 months. It's the reason they are kicking ass, and targeting leadership, i.e. command structure, such as generals, and unit Commodes. It's why their first shots are often to take out leadership and then the rest of the unit retreats because they don't know what else to do.
The Ukrainians are fighting just as a NATO army would fight. It's proving that NATO would destroy the Russian military in any fight. It's also validating what the USMC has done by eliminating their tank corps. They know that light infantry with a heavy emphasis on AT weapons can stop the Chinese Army because they fight like the Russians. The US has been over in Taiwan for over a year doing exactly what they did in Ukraine. IMO the Chinese won't stand much chance either. Their logistics have to cross the straits. You know what is going on in Ukraine has got to give them pause. As was proved in WWII amphib attacks are the most complex form of attack there is.
The mistake made in Ukraine by the US and also in Taiwan is they should have had boots on the ground to act as a tripwire, just like there is in Korea. Putin would probably have not invaded because it meant direct contact with the US which could have been reinforced quickly. The US would have had air superiority almost immediately. If the US wants to really deter China they need to have a large "training and advisory force" on the ground in Taiwan. The stupid ambivalence of "maybe" we will fight is no deterrent at all.
Tripwire boots on the ground has worked in Korea and in Europe and will work in Taiwan.
