Francis Tuchek, Taipei Regional militaries wrapped up this year’s Balikatan exercises in the northern Philippines, drilling for large‑scale combat in the very waters that would matter most in a conflict over Taiwan. Troops from the Philippines, United States, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and France trained across Luzon and the Bashi Channel—territory that would sit…
Richard Saunders –Taipei, March 26, 2026 — Amid escalating tensions with China, Taiwan’s defense analysts should be increasingly looking to international examples for strategic insights. One unexpected model is Iran’s mosaic defense strategy, a decentralized military doctrine crafted to endure superior firepower and prolonged engagements. Iran’s mosaic defense prioritizes dispersing command authority, empowering local units,…
Ricard Saunders, KL The United States is preparing a major arms sale to Taiwan that is expected to include advanced command-and-control systems, surface-to-air missiles, sophisticated radar units, and counter-drone defenses, according to an informed source who spoke on condition of anonymity yesterday. The anticipated package aligns with Washington’s continued support of Taiwan’s defense modernization efforts…
Richard Saunders-Taichung Analysts warn that China could exploit the United States’ surprise attack on Venezuela to strengthen its territorial claims over Taiwan and the South China Sea, but they stress that Beijing is unlikely to accelerate any plans for a direct invasion of Taiwan. A report released Monday by the German Marshall Fund cautioned that…
Francis Tuschek Chinese President Xi Jinping, who has repeatedly stated that reunification with Taiwan is “inevitable,” reiterated the notion in his address to the nation on New Year’s Eve, touting an unbreakable “bond of blood and kinship.” Taiwan has been ruled by Chinese nationalist forces as the Republic of China ever since they retreated to…
Richard Sanders As geopolitical tensions rise in East Asia, Taiwan is taking a closer look at Ukraine’s wartime resilience, prompting a national debate over whether the island should adopt a more decentralized, militia‑style defense model. Analysts say the comparison is instructive—but not straightforward. Ukraine’s experience since Russia’s full‑scale invasion in 2022 has become a global…
Richard Sanders In a significant move to bolster national security, President William Lai (賴清德) announced yesterday a special defense budget of NT$1.25 trillion (approximately US$39.9 billion), which aims to enhance Taiwan’s military capabilities, including a state-of-the-art “Taiwan dome” air defense system. This funding, set to span eight years from next year through 2033, was detailed…
Richard Sanders, Phnom Penh As tensions between Taiwan and China escalate, the island nation can glean critical insights from Ukraine’s war with Russia, particularly in the arenas of defense strategies, information warfare, and civil preparedness. The ongoing crisis in Ukraine serves as a stark reminder of the challenges that arise when confronting an aggressive neighbor,…
Ed Castro Venezuela has requested assistance from Russia, China, and Iran to strengthen its defenses amid the ongoing standoff with the US, the Washington Post claimed on Friday, citing US government documents. According to the newspaper, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro sent a letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping requesting radar detectors and directly citing the “escalation”…
Francis Tuschek A series of leaked documents have uncovered evidence that Russia is actively assisting China in its military buildup targeting Taiwan, including the sale of advanced weaponry and specialized training for Chinese forces. The cache, comprising roughly 800 pages of contracts and correspondence, was obtained and verified by an independent think tank. The documents…