The question of whether the United States will militarily defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion remains one of the most critical and complex issues in international security today. China’s intentions are clear: it seeks to isolate and ultimately seize Taiwan, a move that would dramatically alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region. Former head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Harry Harris, has emphasized that China’s ambitions directly conflict with American interests and that the U.S. must be equally clear in its resolve to prevent Beijing from dictating U.S. foreign policy toward Taiwan.
New military and legislative actions indicate that, while with some subtle changes, the United States is reaffirming its commitment to Taiwan's defense, congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act NDAA for Fiscal Year 2025 in December 2024, which includes the creation of a military trauma treatment program between the United States and Taiwan as well as a Taiwan security cooperation effort, a larger international effort to help Taiwan's security is indicated by the act, which calls on the United States to collaborate with European partners to improve Taiwan's defense capabilities and fortify its connections with the island nation, in keeping with a strategic alliance to strengthen Taiwan's resilience, increased defense industrial cooperation is likewise a top objective.
Taiwan is constantly updating its defense strategy, a policy of "resolute defense and multi-domain deterrence," with an emphasis on "whole-of-society resilience," is highlighted in Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense's 2025 Quadrennial Defense Review, Taiwan is making significant investments in asymmetric capabilities like combat drones, uncrewed vehicles and precision strike systems intended to create a "hellscape" for any invading Chinese forces, United States Indo-Pacific Command Admiral Samuel Paparo supports this strategy, which acknowledges that any conflict with China would involve not only military but also psychological and informational elements, including disinformation campaigns and attacks on civilian infrastructure.
However, the U.S. approach to Taiwan’s defense is evolving. Under the Trump administration’s second term, there is a clear push for Taiwan to assume a larger share of its own defense costs. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Undersecretary of Defense nominee Elbridge Colby have both stressed that the U.S should no longer fully subsidize the protection of allies abroad, colby has suggested increasing Taiwan’s defense spending from below 3% of GDP to around 10%, a move that would require Taiwan to allocate a significant portion of its national budget to military modernization, this shift indicates a more transactional US. policy that emphasizes burden-sharing and encourages Taiwan to build greater self-reliance.
U.S. authorities have reiterated their sustained support for Taiwan's self-defense in spite of recent developments, U.S senators' recent remarks while in Taipei highlight the United States' continued support for Taiwan's defense capabilities, although delivery of vital systems like F-16V fighter jets and HIMARS rocket launchers may be delayed due to new Pentagon arms export procedures, the United States still provides Taiwan with cutting-edge weapons, although these setbacks shorten Taiwan's modernization schedule, they do not indicate a lack of support.
Taiwan's strong technological industry is also used in its defense modernization, in order to boost innovation in unmanned systems, artificial intelligence applications, cybersecurity and next-generation communications, the government is encouraging collaborations between the military and the business sector, building a local military industrial base that can maintain long-term resilience and lessen reliance on foreign suppliers is the goal of programs like the "Advanced National Defense Technology Research Program" and the creation of aerospace and UAV industrial parks.
New military and legislative actions indicate that, while with some subtle changes, the United States is reaffirming its commitment to Taiwan's defense, congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act NDAA for Fiscal Year 2025 in December 2024, which includes the creation of a military trauma treatment program between the United States and Taiwan as well as a Taiwan security cooperation effort, a larger international effort to help Taiwan's security is indicated by the act, which calls on the United States to collaborate with European partners to improve Taiwan's defense capabilities and fortify its connections with the island nation, in keeping with a strategic alliance to strengthen Taiwan's resilience, increased defense industrial cooperation is likewise a top objective.
Taiwan is constantly updating its defense strategy, a policy of "resolute defense and multi-domain deterrence," with an emphasis on "whole-of-society resilience," is highlighted in Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense's 2025 Quadrennial Defense Review, Taiwan is making significant investments in asymmetric capabilities like combat drones, uncrewed vehicles and precision strike systems intended to create a "hellscape" for any invading Chinese forces, United States Indo-Pacific Command Admiral Samuel Paparo supports this strategy, which acknowledges that any conflict with China would involve not only military but also psychological and informational elements, including disinformation campaigns and attacks on civilian infrastructure.
However, the U.S. approach to Taiwan’s defense is evolving. Under the Trump administration’s second term, there is a clear push for Taiwan to assume a larger share of its own defense costs. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Undersecretary of Defense nominee Elbridge Colby have both stressed that the U.S should no longer fully subsidize the protection of allies abroad, colby has suggested increasing Taiwan’s defense spending from below 3% of GDP to around 10%, a move that would require Taiwan to allocate a significant portion of its national budget to military modernization, this shift indicates a more transactional US. policy that emphasizes burden-sharing and encourages Taiwan to build greater self-reliance.
U.S. authorities have reiterated their sustained support for Taiwan's self-defense in spite of recent developments, U.S senators' recent remarks while in Taipei highlight the United States' continued support for Taiwan's defense capabilities, although delivery of vital systems like F-16V fighter jets and HIMARS rocket launchers may be delayed due to new Pentagon arms export procedures, the United States still provides Taiwan with cutting-edge weapons, although these setbacks shorten Taiwan's modernization schedule, they do not indicate a lack of support.
Taiwan's strong technological industry is also used in its defense modernization, in order to boost innovation in unmanned systems, artificial intelligence applications, cybersecurity and next-generation communications, the government is encouraging collaborations between the military and the business sector, building a local military industrial base that can maintain long-term resilience and lessen reliance on foreign suppliers is the goal of programs like the "Advanced National Defense Technology Research Program" and the creation of aerospace and UAV industrial parks.
