'Porcupine' defense needed against China
TAIPEI – Incoming Taiwanese leader Lai Ching-te said the most effective strategy to prevent China from seizing the self-ruled island will likely be to bolster an agile defensive «porcupine» approach by spending more on missiles and drones.
Lessons learned from Russia's war in Ukraine about how rapidly developing drones can outfox traditional heavy weaponry suggest that Lai Ching-te will boost Taiwan's production of modern military technology after assuming leadership on Monday.
«Taiwan is taking the Chinese military threat more seriously,» said Raymond Kuo, Taiwan Policy Initiative director at RAND Corp.
SOPHISTICATED WEAPONRY An MK-13 missile launcher on the bow of the frigate ROCS Cheng Kung during an open day coinciding with the visit of three Taiwanese navy ships at the Keelung Port on March 17, 2024. AFP Photo«It has ramped up its production of anti-ship missiles, tested new anti-air missiles, and is on track to manufacture several thousand military drones,» he said.
«I would expect those efforts to continue (under Lai) alongside purchases of US equipment and development of large platforms like the indigenous submarine.»
Washington switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, but it has remained Taiwan's most important partner and biggest arms supplier.
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Beijing maintains a near-daily presence of fighter jets, drones and naval ships around the island in what experts call «grey zone» actions — tactics that fall short of an act of war.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken asked Beijing during a visit to China in April to avoid «provocative» measures during Lai's inauguration on Monday.
Taiwan authorities have detected dozens of Chinese aircraft near the island in recent days.
AdvertisementBeijing, which regards Lai as a «dangerous separatist,» is expected to intensify that military pressure in the coming years, underscoring the security challenges facing his administration.
«This reality means that a key measure of success of the Lai administration will be how far he can push forward the necessary reforms to improve Taiwan's ability to defend itself and deter Chinese aggression,» Amanda Hsiao of the
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