Taiwan has bolstered its defense ties with the U.S. through record arms deals—including a $2 billion sale and an additional $385 million agreement—but a dramatic shift from a fixed 40% offset requirement to a case-by-case system now heightens financial risks and uncertainty for defense contractors.
Taiwan Places Bid to Enter CPTPP The Executive Yuan on September 23 announced Taiwan’s bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), applying as the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu, the name it uses to participate in the World Trade Organization (WTO). The CPTPP was signed in…
Taiwan’s military is set to receive a windfall in the form of a five-year special budget focused on indigenous defense capabilities. Under the Six Core Strategic Industries initiative, the domestic defense supply chain is growing, though foreign technology still plays an integral role. Since early 2020, Chinese military aircraft have regularly intruded into Taiwan’s southwest…
Military planners say asymmetric platforms will boost Taiwan’s overall warfighting capabilities, raising the cost to Beijing of an invasion. The People’s Republic of China has been threatening to annex Taiwan by force for seven decades. The threat has not been credible until recently, with the ruling Communist Party becoming increasingly emboldened by the country’s rapid…
Former Premier Hau Pei-Tsun Dies Former Premier Hau Pei-tsun passed away at the age of 100 at the end of March. As a young military officer, Hau had fought in the Chinese Civil War, and as an army commander stationed on Kinmen had been in charge of its defenses during a landmark 44-day bombardment of…
Taiwan’s Military Chief Dies in Accident Chief of the General Staff Shen Yi-ming was among eight military officers killed January 2 when their helicopter made a crash-landing in mountainous terrain shortly after take-off from Taipei on the way to visits troops stationed in Yilan County in the island’s northeast. Shen, who was 62, assumed Taiwan’s…
Tsai Pays Respects to King of “Tailand” President Tsai visited the representative offices of the Kingdom of Thailand on October 17 to pay her respects following the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who passed away October 13. During her visit, where Thai officials displayed photos of the king meeting with the late Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek,…
Domestic ATM Heist At First Bank An international crime ring made up of Eastern European and Russian nationals made off with NT$83 million (equivalent to US$$2.6 million) removed from 34 of the First Commercial Bank’s automatic teller machines around Taiwan on July 9 and 10. The heist was carried out by using malware to make…
Taiwan’s Submarine Project Resurfaces Taiwan’s two major political parties appear to be in agreement on prioritizing the acquisition of submarines, which many experts see as vital in augmenting Taiwan’s defense in the face of China’s rapid military expansion. China has more than 1,100 ballistic missiles trained on Taiwan, along with large fleets of advanced fighter…
The newly elected DPP government has stated its intention to strengthen Taiwan’s defense industry as a way to both enhance national security and expand the economy. Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology has already demonstrated its capability to develop various types of weaponry, including advanced missile systems, and the Aerospace Industry Development Corp. –…
