Ying Yu Lin
The biennial National Defense Report is one of Taiwan’s most important defense documents. In addition to outlining the government’s recent defense policies, it also serves to communicate to the international community Taiwan’s defensive posture and determination in the face of threats from China.
Notably, the report explains the evolution of Taiwan’s defense thinking from multiple perspectives – including force structure, training, and equipment – showing how the armed forces have adapted to a changing threat environment. Beyond informing the public of the military’s progress, it also conveys Taiwan’s strategic stance to the world. The National Defense Report is thus a crucial document for explaining strategy domestically and expressing policy resolve externally.
The National Defense Report also functions as an essential resource for national defense education. The 2025 edition, released on October 9, specifically addresses the changing international environment following the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump, maintaining a focus on Taiwan’s security context as the main analytical framework.
It emphasizes the most significant threat to Taiwan – the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of the People’s Republic of China. It is important to note, however, that the report is not meant to provide an overview of China’s military power. Rather, it focuses on the threats the PLA poses to Taiwan and identifies how recent developments differ from those of the past. These changes are used to introduce Taiwan’s subsequent adjustments in defense posture – discussed beginning in Chapter 3, which addresses strategic guidance and defense capabilities.
In analyzing Taiwan’s defense strategy, the concept of resilience has become a central theme in this year’s report. While Taiwan has long emphasized deterrence – aiming to prevent aggression through credible defense – the PLA’s growing capabilities and the Chinese Communist regime’s increasingly irrational decision-making make unexpected military action possible. Although Taiwan will not initiate hostilities, it must possess the ability to withstand an attack, preserve combat power, and mobilize reserves and civilian resources to launch a counteroffensive – thereby shattering Beijing’s illusion of a quick and decisive first strike. This reflects the core idea of resilience, which has repeatedly appeared in recent defense discussions.
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