In response to increased military and political pressure from China, Taiwan announced new plans to strengthen its military ties with the United States, with the primary goal of strengthening its defense capabilities and increasing the sense of security to maintain the island’s autonomy. Chinese military exercises are becoming increasingly frequent, placing a geopolitical alert on the Taipei government, which now relies on the US partnership to ensure stability and deter potential attacks.
Taiwan deepens military ties with the US to contain cross-strait risks
Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense has confirmed its intention to expand collaboration with the United States on military matters, including reciprocal visits by both nations, observation of training exercises, and in-depth discussions on security strategies. According to the report submitted to Parliament, the ultimate goal is to ensure peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
Despite not maintaining official diplomatic relations with the island, the United States is Taipei’s main military partner and is legally obligated to provide defense resources to the region. It’s important to note that this connection has become increasingly visible in recent years, due to the intensification of Chinese naval exercises and the recurring presence of fighter jets near Taiwanese territory.
Currently, to illustrate an example of this partnership that involves the exchange of experiences and specialized military personnel, Taiwanese F-16 fighter pilots train at North American bases in Arizona, while on the island of Taiwan, there are approximately 500 American military personnel operating, which is a larger number than previously reported.
Chinese pressure and efforts to modernize Taiwanese forces increase
Taipei has criticized Chinese military actions in recent months, alleging what it described as “normalized military harassment,” with warplane flyovers and naval exercises occurring almost daily, aimed at eroding defense capabilities and demonstrating power.
“These measures aim to exert psychological coercion and tactical deterrence against us, wear down our defense capacity, and demonstrate an ability to deny third-party intervention — together creating a severe regional security challenge,” said the defense ministry of Taiwan.
Taiwan accelerates military modernization to counter Beijing’s increasing military pressure
As a direct response, the Taiwanese government is investing in accelerating the modernization of its armed forces. Some of the most important acquisitions include HIMARS rocket launchers, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, the same ones used by Ukraine in the war against Russia. The system is capable of hitting targets nearly 300 kilometers away and is of great value in a conflict scenario.
Taiwan has currently received 11 of the 29 systems ordered and expects the remainder next year. At the same time, the country extended mandatory military service to one year and increased reservist training. To achieve this, the country needed to invest and create a defense budget that is expected to exceed 3% of GDP, a recent record.
Between political uncertainty and a growing sense of self-defense
Despite the close collaboration, it’s still unclear what level of involvement the US government is willing to have in the event of a Chinese attack. The US’s policy of “strategic ambiguity,” which neither promises nor rules out military support, is a cause for concern in Taipei. Donald Trump’s statements about tariffs and criticism of Taiwan’s semiconductor sector are other commercial and political factors that cast doubt on this partnership.
The strengthening of cooperation between Taiwan and the United States is an attempt to defuse tensions in the Pacific and reaffirm the island’s commitment to democracy. Faced with Chinese military pressure and global political uncertainty, Taiwan is trying to balance its need to invest in security through military investments with the goal of not generating or fueling further tensions with China, avoiding provoking open conflict.