Taiwan urged to establish regional defense networkBy Fang Wei-li and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writerOn the front lines of the Indo-Pacific, a region rife with conflict as China and Russia challenge global security and order, Taiwan must deepen collaboration and dialogue with like-minded countries and establish a robust, pan-democratic defense network, Institute for National Defense and Security Research chairman Huo Shou-ye (霍守業) told a forum in Taipei on Tuesday. Among them was former minister of national defense Tsai Ming-hsien (蔡明憲), who said that Taiwan increasing its defense spending, development of drones and submarine capabilities, and reinforcing infrastructure protection capabilities would help make the nation more resilient and deter China from a military invasion. Panelists attend a foum hosted by the Institute for National Defense and Security Research in Taipei on Tuesday. Photo: CNATsai said he hoped the US, Japan, Australia, the Philippines and other friendly nations would continue to deepen defense collaborations with Taiwan. Institute assistant researcher Lee Chun-yi (李俊毅) said China’s “gray zone” tactics aim to portray Taiwan as part of China, and to suggest that the differences in governance between Taiwan and China do not matter.

Source: Taipei Times December 19, 2025 17:26 UTC