• Research
  • Strategic Europe
  • About
  • Experts
Carnegie Europe logoCarnegie lettermark logo
EUUkraine
  • Donate
Military Modernization in Taiwan
Book

Military Modernization in Taiwan

Taiwan’s military is clearly modernizing and will improve in the near- to mid-term. A reorientation away from an army-centric focus has led to such improvements as joint warfighting capabilities among branches of the military and improvements in missile defense systems, front-line military units, and naval defense capabilities.

Link Copied
By Michael D. Swaine and Roy Kamphausen
Published on Sep 30, 2005

Source: Strategic Asia 2005-06: Military Modernization in an Era of Uncertainty

In their chapter in Strategic Asia 2005–06: Military Modernization in an Era of Uncertainty, Michael Swaine and Roy Kamphausen argue that Taiwan’s military is clearly modernizing and will improve in the near- to mid-term. A reorientation away from an army-centric focus has led to such improvements as joint warfighting capabilities among branches of the military and improvements in missile defense systems, front-line military units, and naval defense capabilities. Progress has been slow, however, and characterized by a number of deficiencies, including inadequate funding levels, an absence of strategic clarity, often misplaced priorities, and unaddressed vulnerabilities. Deficiencies in Taiwan’s military modernization in large part reflect the influence of Taiwan’s highly dynamic and divisive domestic political, bureaucratic, and social environment; a historical legacy of military-oriented rule; and the vagaries of U.S. political and military assistance.

Through a combination of country, regional, and topical studies, Strategic Asia 2005–06 assesses how Asian states are modernizing their military programs in response to China's rise as a regional power, the war on terrorism, changes in U.S. force posture, the revolution in military affairs, and local security dilemmas. The book is edited by Ashley J. Tellis, senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and Michael Wills, Strategic Asia program director at the National Bureau of Asian Research.

Strategic Asia 2005–06: Military Modernization in an Era of Uncertainty is available to order from NBR.

About the Authors

Michael D. Swaine

Former Senior Fellow, Asia Program

Swaine was a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and one of the most prominent American analysts in Chinese security studies.

Roy Kamphausen

Authors

Michael D. Swaine
Former Senior Fellow, Asia Program
Michael D. Swaine
Roy Kamphausen
ChinaMilitaryForeign Policy

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

More Work from Carnegie Europe

  • Commentary
    Strategic Europe
    Taking the Pulse: Is France’s New Nuclear Doctrine Ambitious Enough?

    French President Emmanuel Macron has unveiled his country’s new nuclear doctrine. Are the changes he has made enough to reassure France’s European partners in the current geopolitical context?

      • Rym Momtaz

      Rym Momtaz, ed.

  • Commentary
    The Iran War’s Dangerous Fallout for Europe

    The drone strike on the British air base in Akrotiri brings Europe’s proximity to the conflict in Iran into sharp relief. In the fog of war, old tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean risk being reignited, and regional stakeholders must avoid escalation.

      Marc Pierini

  • Trump United Nations multilateralism institutions 2236462680
    Article
    Resetting Cyber Relations with the United States

    For years, the United States anchored global cyber diplomacy. As Washington rethinks its leadership role, the launch of the UN’s Cyber Global Mechanism may test how allies adjust their engagement.

      • Christopher Painter

      Patryk Pawlak, Chris Painter

  • Commentary
    Strategic Europe
    Global Instability Makes Europe More Attractive, Not Less

    Europe isn’t as weak in the new geopolitics of power as many would believe. But to leverage its assets and claim a sphere of influence, Brussels must stop undercutting itself.

      Dimitar Bechev

  • Commentary
    Strategic Europe
    Europe on Iran: Gone with the Wind

    Europe’s reaction to the war in Iran has been disunited and meek, a far cry from its previously leading role in diplomacy with Tehran. To avoid being condemned to the sidelines while escalation continues, Brussels needs to stand up for international law.

      Pierre Vimont

Get more news and analysis from
Carnegie Europe
Carnegie Europe logo, white
Rue du Congrès, 151000 Brussels, Belgium
  • Research
  • Strategic Europe
  • About
  • Experts
  • Projects
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Careers
  • Privacy
  • For Media
  • Gender Equality Plan
Get more news and analysis from
Carnegie Europe
© 2026 Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. All rights reserved.