TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s military is steadily transitioning from a conventional defense strategy to an asymmetric one.
The nation is stockpiling more mobile and cost-effective weapons systems to build deterrence against a potential Chinese invasion. The goal is to make China “think twice before attacking,” or at least delay its forces long enough for Taiwan to secure US assistance, per the Wall Street Journal.
“They are improving their military readiness in all three areas: policy, procurement and personnel,” WSJ quoted Mark Montgomery, senior director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, as saying. “But this is a five- or six-year-to-go process, and they need to get to work on each one of those as fast as they can.”
Taiwan’s air defense arsenal includes domestically developed Sky Bow, land-based Sky Sword II, and Antelope missile systems, along with US-made Patriot and NASAMS. The National Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology operates 16 production lines for air defense missiles and other offensive munitions, with output reaching 1,000 missiles in both 2023 and 2024.
Taiwan also relies on a Cold War-era AN/FPS-115 PAVE PAWS early warning radar, purchased from the US in 2000 for NT$57.66 billion (US$1.8 billion). Operational since February 2013, the radar is located at an altitude of 2,620 meters and can detect missiles launched from up to 5,000 km away.
To counter a potential amphibious landing, Taiwan deploys Hsiung Feng and Harpoon anti-ship missiles. A new Coastal Defense Command will be established in 2026 to oversee six bases equipped with these systems. Taiwan is also building six Min Jiang-class rapid minelaying ships and has ordered six more under the “Yong Jie Project” to make it harder for China to reach its shores.
Taiwan is expanding its drone fleet with suicide UAVs such as the Chien Hsiang. It plans to acquire more than 3,000 domestically made drones over the next five years and has already purchased nearly 1,000 Switchblade 300 and ALTIUS 600 M-V loitering munitions from the US.
In March, Taiwan Shipbuilding Corporation unveiled the country's first military unmanned surface vehicle (USV), the Endeavor Manta, with a payload capacity over one tonne and a top speed of more than 64.82 kilometers per hour. The National Chung Shan Institute is also testing its “Kuai Chi” attack USV prototype.
Alessio Patalano, a professor of war and strategy in East Asia at King’s College London, told WSJ that weapons that are low-cost and easy to deploy are key to hindering a Chinese attack. However, she noted that Taiwan’s military “will only be as ready and as proficient as the Taiwanese people and the Taiwanese political elites want them to be.”
Despite progress, Taiwan faces major challenges. Under the second Trump administration, some, including Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby, have called for Taiwan to boost defense spending to 10% of GDP. However, WSJ noted this would be difficult while prioritizing lower-cost weapons.
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said in March the 10% target is “impossible.” Based on the government’s 2025 GDP estimate of NT$26.88 trillion, this would amount to a NT$2.68 trillion national defense budget.
Defense budget cuts proposed by the opposition Kuomintang and Taiwan People’s Party have also hindered Taiwan’s deterrence efforts. In January, both parties voted to reduce budgets for military equipment and facilities by 3% and froze half of the NT$2 billion budget for Taiwan’s indigenous submarine program.
Taiwan also struggles with military recruitment. The country aims to maintain a force of 215,000, but by the end of 2023, only 78% of positions were filled, according to WSJ.
To address recruitment issues, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) in March announced higher bonuses for volunteer military personnel. New recruits now receive up to NT$12,000, while those ranked major and below are eligible for NT$15,000.
Taiwan is also modernizing its training programs, particularly with Stinger missiles and drones, a move WSJ said is vital to creating a more powerful and capable military.
