Executive summary: Taiwan faces a growing military threat from China but has not adapted its defense strategy, instead prioritizing expensive weapons over more asymmetric options better suited to deter invasion.
Key points:
China’s military modernization now quantitatively and qualitatively outpaces Taiwan’s forces across air, land, and sea.
Taiwan aims for “resolute defense” but continues procurement of big-ticket items like jets and tanks not optimal for asymmetric warfare.
Recommended asymmetric capabilities like coastal missiles, drones, and mobile air defenses are not prioritized despite likely better deterrence.
Institutional inertia, political costs of admitting vulnerability, and intelligence estimates contribute to maintaining status quo strategy.
Result is mismatch between China’s invasion preparations and Taiwan’s inadequate adaptations, risking temptation for confrontation.
This comment was auto-generated by the EA Forum Team. Feel free to point out issues with this summary by replying to the comment, andcontact us if you have feedback.
Executive summary: Taiwan faces a growing military threat from China but has not adapted its defense strategy, instead prioritizing expensive weapons over more asymmetric options better suited to deter invasion.
Key points:
China’s military modernization now quantitatively and qualitatively outpaces Taiwan’s forces across air, land, and sea.
Taiwan aims for “resolute defense” but continues procurement of big-ticket items like jets and tanks not optimal for asymmetric warfare.
Recommended asymmetric capabilities like coastal missiles, drones, and mobile air defenses are not prioritized despite likely better deterrence.
Institutional inertia, political costs of admitting vulnerability, and intelligence estimates contribute to maintaining status quo strategy.
Result is mismatch between China’s invasion preparations and Taiwan’s inadequate adaptations, risking temptation for confrontation.
This comment was auto-generated by the EA Forum Team. Feel free to point out issues with this summary by replying to the comment, and contact us if you have feedback.