TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Cabinet on Monday unveiled its 2026 policy guidelines, which prioritize countering Chinese security threats through strengthened national security, intelligence, and defense.
The Cabinet said that, given continued global geopolitical instability, it will implement President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) 17 national security measures and work towards raising the defense budget to 3% of GDP, per CNA. Legal reforms will target China’s united front tactics, infiltration, and cognitive warfare.
Taiwan will seek to enhance the protection of high-tech sectors. It will also look to collaborate with friendly countries to jointly establish a democratic global supply chain.
On the diplomatic front, the government will continue its pragmatic diplomatic approach, promoting mutual trust and assistance. It also plans to formulate an action plan to work with partner nations to express the consensus of the Taiwanese people in opposing China’s annexation ambitions and efforts to isolate Taiwan diplomatically.
Defense efforts will focus on four areas: developing asymmetric warfare capabilities, enhancing defensive resilience, bolstering reserve forces, and improving capabilities for dealing with gray-zone intrusions. Under the “resolute defense and multi-layered deterrence” strategy, the government will integrate national resources and public support.
The Cabinet said that military training will follow a “real troops, real terrain, real-time, real equipment” approach to strengthen combat readiness, particularly in joint operations involving war preparation, anti-landing maneuvers, coastal defense, in-depth defense, and sustained combat capabilities. Training will be standardized across all levels with clear targets and evaluation benchmarks.
To support these goals, Taiwan will acquire military equipment through domestic production, commercial purchases, and foreign military sales. It also plans to advance defense technology by integrating academic and research institutions, implementing industry certification and security controls, and developing a complete defense supply chain for greater self-reliance.
The Cabinet said it will strengthen intelligence and counterintelligence capabilities through a national security joint defense system. Measures include reforming the military judiciary and introducing penalties for expressions of allegiance to hostile forces to deter espionage and infiltration.
Additional steps include improving coordination between central and local mobilization systems, boosting whole-of-society defense resilience, expanding reserve and refresher training, and ensuring drills incorporate combat validation and live-fire exercises.
Lastly, the administration reaffirmed its commitment to consolidating Taiwan–US relations and deepening military exchanges and cooperation with friendly nations. Through high-level policy dialogues, military reform, and defense industry development, Taiwan seeks to expand bilateral and multilateral military engagement with like-minded countries and reinforce international support.
