Taiwan says its military can react immediately to any sudden Chinese attack, with frontline units authorised to carry out combat missions without waiting for orders from senior commanders, according to a new defence ministry report released to lawmakers.
The assessment underscores Taipei’s concern that China could abruptly turn routine military drills into live combat operations, a scenario Taiwan says would be designed to catch the island and its partners off guard. Officials say the ability to operate under decentralised command is central to Taiwan’s response plan.
In the report, the defence ministry said all units are trained to shift rapidly into action if Chinese exercises move “from drill to war.” Under this system, forces would act independently based on standing procedures rather than await instructions from higher command. The ministry did not disclose operational details, citing security reasons, according to Reuters.
Taiwanese officials said the frequency and scale of Chinese military activity around the island have increased steadily in recent years. This includes near daily operations by Chinese aircraft and warships and regular “joint combat readiness patrols,” which Taipei describes as part of a sustained pressure campaign short of open conflict.
The report also said China has expanded the scope of its exercises, including training that simulates attacks on Taiwan and deploying naval vessels deeper into the Pacific Ocean and toward waters near Australia and New Zealand. Taiwan’s government says these moves reflect Beijing’s continued refusal to renounce the use of force to assert control over the island.
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China claims Taiwan as its own territory and rejects the island’s assertion that only its people can decide their future. On Monday, China’s defence ministry accused President Lai Ching te of exaggerating the threat from Beijing and stoking public anxiety about war. In a statement, the ministry warned Taiwan residents against what it called dangerous policies aimed at seeking independence.
Taiwan Defence Minister Wellington Koo is scheduled to brief lawmakers and answer questions on the report later this week, as cross strait tensions remain a central focus of regional security discussions.