Why it Matters
The Chinese government engages in persistent noncombat operations that erode Taiwan's military and societal resilience, including large-scale military exercises, near-daily patrols around Taiwan, uncrewed combat aerial vehicle flights, cyber operations, law enforcement activities near Taiwan-administered islands, and disinformation campaigns. Taiwan's defense budget increased by around 7.5 percent from 2024 to 2025, and the president intends to raise spending to approximately 3.3 percent of gross domestic product in 2026, reflecting efforts to bolster military capacity. However, Taiwan's military has struggled to recruit, train, and retain personnel, undermining readiness even as budgets grow.
The Big Picture
The U.S. has encouraged Taiwan to pursue an asymmetric defense strategy, including investment in anti-ship missiles, naval mines, and other relatively inexpensive weapons designed to make a rapid invasion costly for the PRC. Since 2015, the State Department has notified Congress of more than $39 billion in Foreign Military Sales to Taiwan, with a December 17, 2025 package of $11.1 billion representing the largest to date. The executive branch has announced three Presidential Drawdown Authority packages for Taiwan totaling $1.5 billion, providing defense articles directly from U.S. Department of Defense stocks.
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