Transforming Taiwan's Defense Strategy with Affordable, Agile, and Resilient Arms

To efficiently brace for any potential escalation in conflict with China, Taiwan must prioritize equipping itself with a plethora of cost-effective, easily transportable, and durable armaments, according to a prominent former defense leader from Taiwan.

Taiwan struggles with dual conflict scenarios: China's subtle, step-by-step dominance strategies below overt warfare levels, and the looming threat of an extensive Chinese assault. Handling both threats demands a varied armory. Addressing a gathering at a recent think tank forum, retired Admiral Lee Hsi-Min emphasized the urgency for Taiwan to remain vigilant against a possible Chinese invasion. Frequent military aircraft probes by China are just one facet that tax Taiwan's resources and personnel, whereas a full-scale invasion could lead to disastrous consequences.

To effectively counter these threats, Taiwan requires a vast array of distributed, mobile, affordable, and highly resilient weapon systems, Lee suggested. These systems should be abundant and survivable, ensuring their effectiveness in conflict.

The concept of asymmetric warfare leverages numerous inexpensive, easily maneuverable devices — such as drones, missiles, and dispersed strike elements — to neutralize a superior power's advantage by complicating their targeting capabilities. This method has been witnessed in action with drones targeting military equipment and warships during international conflicts.

Lee firmly believes that Taiwan's continued existence in the face of a Chinese military onslaught rests on adopting such a strategic approach.

Taiwan is rigorously adopting this military strategy, focusing its efforts on systems like drones, advanced sensors, strategic jamming devices, and both anti-ship and air defense missiles. Beyond mere equipment, there's an ongoing investment in training Taiwan's civilians for possible invasion scenarios and preparing the military for urban warfare to thwart Chinese advances.

Conventional weapons and high-tech systems still hold value, particularly when it comes to countering China's regular military maneuvers and large-scale drills near Taiwan. Nevertheless, Lee stressed the importance of scalable, resourceful, and intelligent weapon systems to effectively deter these actions.

The protracted nature of warfare shows that quantity can sometimes surpass quality. Possessing only a small number of sophisticated systems may heighten Taiwan's vulnerability should China decide to escalate to full-scale warfare.

Lessons drawn from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine highlight that a vast stockpile of low-cost weapons is essential for enduring conflicts. Overly complex and pricey systems do not provide sustainable solutions in long-term high-intensity warfare.

Lee's past advocacy for enhanced asymmetric warfare and favoring uncrewed, mobile systems over traditional military hardware aligns with these sentiments. His 'Overall Defense Concept' highlights the imperative that Taiwan adjusts its focus to untraditional strategies given China's escalating military capacity.

Recent years have seen a significant boost in Taiwan's defense budget, channeling funds into acquiring advanced missiles, air defense frameworks, and drones, particularly from the United States and allied nations.

Given the significant difference in military strength between China and Taiwan, continuing with conventional war strategies against the People's Liberation Army isn't viable, as Lee and researcher Eric Lee argued. Embracing a tactical asymmetric defense approach may offset Taiwan's strategic disadvantages, potentially disrupting any attempts by China at ground invasion.

Currently, Taiwan is diversifying its defense arsenal with a mix of capabilities. Recently, the United States approved its largest arms sale to Taiwan, valued at $11 billion, including artillery rockets, tactical missile systems, and drones. This move seeks to fortify Taiwan's self-defense and act as a strategic deterrent.

China views these arms sales as a violation of international agreements with the United States and warns of potential military repercussions. However, Taiwan's strategic focus on bolstering its defense capabilities remains steadfast.

A vital component of Taiwan's defense strategy involves swiftly amplifying its domestic drone manufacturing, drawing from lessons learned from Ukraine. Collaborations with US and European firms are ongoing, with Taiwan aiming to produce 200,000 drones annually by 2030. Additionally, substantial investments are being made in other defense technology, including a novel air-defense system dubbed 'T-Dome.'