How is Taiwan responding to China’s aggression

Over the decades, Taiwan’s defence strategy has gone through several major shifts which helps to explain the current approach and challenges that Taiwan faces today.

Taiwan’s defence plans started out in 1949 with bold plans to retake the Chinese mainland. These plans moved through a phase that focused on forward defence, then layered deterrence, and finally settled into a strategy built around whole-of-society and asymmetric resilience.

Each of these changes reflected not only shifting political and military realities across the Taiwan Strait but also evolving thinking in Taipei about what would most credibly keep Taiwan safe.

A (complicated) history of preparing for war

Outlines China’s excessive maritime claims and provides detail on why those claims are inconsistent with international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Taiwan’s views on identity and conflict

Explores how countries use their militaries to challenge China’s excessive claims and uphold international law, rules and norms.

The Government’s approach to conflict and deterrence

Explores how countries use their militaries to challenge China’s excessive claims and uphold international law, rules and norms.

Taiwan’s military preparations

Explores how countries use their militaries to challenge China’s excessive claims and uphold international law, rules and norms.

China’s excessive claims and sensitive areas

PRESSURE POINTS