TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s military has revamped its combat readiness framework to better counter China’s evolving gray-zone tactics.

As the People’s Liberation Army shifts from long-range maritime missions to hybrid operations, the distinction between peacetime and wartime has increasingly blurred, Liberty Times reported. In response, Taiwan has overhauled its joint operations strategy to ensure a smoother transition during a crisis.

Under the “Regular Combat Readiness Period,” the military has introduced three alert levels: “Combat Deployment,” “Level 2 Enhanced Readiness,” and “Level 1 Enhanced Readiness.”

For the “Defense Operations Period,” the military has identified three strategic priorities: “Joint Anti-Landing and Coastal Strikes,” “Beachhead Combat,” and “Defense-in-Depth and Sustained Operations.” The Ministry of National Defense declined to elaborate on the specifics of the new operational architecture or readiness protocols, citing national security concerns.

Previously, joint operation plans were divided into two periods and three fixed stages. The Regular Combat Readiness Period consisted of a “Combat Readiness Preparation” stage, while the Defense Operations Period was split into “Emergency Operations” and “Total Warfare.”

Military sources told Liberty Times that the legacy framework is no longer sufficient to address China’s current military threats and persistent gray-zone harassment.

In January, the Army redesignated its armored and mechanized infantry brigades as combined arms brigades to align with overall force-building plans and boost defensive combat capabilities. The change supports rapid response, crisis management, and independent combat missions.