Taiwan's Defence Strategy Against Rising China Threats

Taiwan must rely on itself for defence amidst threats from China, according to Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung. Responding to Donald Trump's criticism, Lin emphasized the importance of Taiwan's self-sufficiency in defence and the need to modernize its military. The U.S. remains a crucial ally, but Taiwan's central strategy pivots on becoming a 'porcupine' hard to attack.

Taiwan must rely on itself for defence amidst growing threats from China, said Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung on Friday, responding to criticism from Donald Trump. Trump, the former U.S. President and current Republican candidate, suggested Taiwan should fund their defence and referenced their acquisition of American semiconductor business.

The United States, despite lacking formal diplomatic ties, remains Taiwan's key international ally and arms supplier. Washington is legally required to support Taiwan's defence, although no formal defence pact exists between the two nations, unlike the agreements the U.S. maintains with Japan and South Korea.

Biden exacerbated tensions with China in 2022 by pledging U.S. military support for Taiwan in the event of an invasion, diverging from the U.S. tradition of 'strategic ambiguity'. Lin highlighted that Taiwan-U.S. relations thrive on bipartisan support within the U.S. He reiterated that the primary concern is addressing the 'China threat' and stressed the need for Taiwan's self-reliance in national defence, supported by increased military spending and modernisation efforts.

In recent years, Taiwan has doubled its defence budget to 2.5% of GDP and extended military conscription. Lin noted Taiwan's commitment to modernising its military, including developing indigenous submarines, as part of its 'porcupine' strategy, which advocates for survivable and mobile weaponry to withstand initial assaults.

This defence strategy has been endorsed by successive U.S. administrations since 2016, countering China's growing military prowess. Taiwan's government remains firm against China's sovereignty claims, which Lin stressed must be determined solely by Taiwan's people.