The Growing Threats to Taiwan and Taiwan’s Efforts to Boost Its Defenses

Global Taiwan Institute

GTI is pleased to invite you to a public policy seminar titled “The Growing Threats to Taiwan and Taiwan’s Efforts to Boost Its Defenses!"

2026 has been a chaotic year in international affairs, with conflict in the Middle East, and the continuing war in Ukraine, unsettling both the international order and the global economy. Amidst the global focus on events in the Middle East, Chinese threats towards Taiwan show no signs of abating. As Chinese coercive threats to Taiwan continue to grow, policymakers and scholars in both Taipei and Washington are evaluating and debating Taiwan’s defense needs – to include not only reforms to Taiwan’s defense structure, but also to the training and organizational changes necessary to facilitate a more effective defense strategy. Several major contentious issues affecting Taiwan’s defense remain unsettled: including the status of a proposed major supplemental defense budget for Taiwan; the status of future US arms sales; and the overall strategy that will guide Taiwan’s efforts to protect its democratic society in the face of Chinese pressure.For an in-depth conversation about the prospects for Taiwan defense policy in 2026 and beyond, GTI will host a forum with three panels: first, an overall look at the threats facing Taiwan; next, a discussion of the steps Taiwan’s government and society are taking to reform and build the island’s military force structure; and finally, a discussion with former senior US defense officials regarding their views on the prospects for Taiwan’s defense reform efforts. <h3>Event Details</h3>Date: Thursday, April 30, 2026 Time: 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM (Doors open at 9:15 AM) Location: Global Taiwan Institute 1836 Jefferson Pl NW, Washington, DC 20036RSVP is only required for in-person attendance. The event will also be livestreamed on GTI’s YouTube channel for virtual participants. If you have any questions, please contact Abby Fu, Senior Programs Manager, at afu@globaltaiwan.org <h3>Agenda</h3>9:30AM - 10:50AM / Panel #1: PRC Coercive Threats to Taiwan and Taiwan’s Defense Policies<ul><li>Moderator: Ben Sando (GTI Research Fellow)</li><li>Alexis Turek (Team Lead, Coalition Defense of Taiwan Project)</li><li>Dr. Chen Liang-chih (Evans Chen) (Research Fellow, INDSR) (remote)</li><li>Eric Chan (GTI Senior Non-Resident Fellow)</li></ul>10:50AM - 11:10AM: Coffee Break11:10AM - 12:30PM / Panel #2: Current Issues Affecting Taiwan’s Defense Acquisitions and Force Structure<ul><li>Moderator / Discussant: Dr. Michael Hunzeker (George Mason Univ.)</li><li>John Dotson (GTI Director): Taiwan’s special defense budget</li><li>Cara Bilson (GTI Intern): Taiwan-EU defense cooperation</li><li>Pinshan Lai (Research Associate, Hudson Institute): Building a “non-red” supply chain</li></ul>12:30PM - 12:50PM: Lunch12:50PM - 13:30PM / Moderated Discussion with Senior US Defense Officials<ul><li>Moderator: John Dotson</li><li>LtGen. Wallace Gregson (USMC, ret.) (Former Assistant Secretary of Defense, Asian and Pacific Security Affairs)</li><li>RADM Mark Montgomery (USN, ret.) (Foundation for the Defense of Democracies)</li></ul> <h3>Media Inquiries</h3>Members of the media planning to attend with additional crew or equipment should contact Yuchen Lee, Communications Associate, at ylee@globaltaiwan.org to ensure proper accommodation. <h3>About GTI</h3>The Global Taiwan Institute is a 501(c)(3) think tank dedicated to deepening understanding of Taiwan, and strengthening US-Taiwan relations through research, policy outreach, and public engagement.

Taiwan’s Connections to Regional and Global Security

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The Growing Threats to Taiwan and Taiwan’s Efforts to Boost Its Defenses

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The Growing Threats to Taiwan and Taiwan’s Efforts to Boost Its Defenses

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Taiwan’s Connections to Regional and Global Security

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