Taiwan will strengthen military cooperation with the United States, emphasizing intelligence sharing and tabletop exercises

Taiwan is set to strengthen its military collaboration with the United States, which will include intelligence sharing and joint tabletop exercises, as reported by the island’s defense ministry on Tuesday in light of increasing military threats from China. The U.S. remains Taiwan’s primary international ally and arms supplier, particularly as China intensifies its military pressure on the democratically governed island that it asserts as its territory.

According to the 2025 Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR), Taiwan aims to gradually enhance military exchanges with the U.S. This will involve initiating “high-level” strategic discussions, observing military drills, conducting joint tabletop exercises, and sharing intelligence. The review emphasized the significance of the U.S. as a strategic partner, highlighting the close military exchanges and cooperation between the two nations.

The report indicated that Taiwan intends to improve the interoperability of its armed forces with those of the U.S., asserting that this collaboration will bolster Taiwan’s defense capabilities in areas such as long-range precision strikes, battlefield command and control, as well as surveillance and reconnaissance. Taiwan’s Defense Minister Wellington Koo is scheduled to present the document to parliament on Wednesday.

China, which has not ruled out the use of force to assert control over Taiwan, has increased its military and political pressure on the island in recent years. Taiwan firmly rejects China’s claims of sovereignty, asserting that only its citizens have the right to determine their future.

On Monday, China sent 59 military aircraft to regions close to Taiwan in response to President Lai Ching-te’s ongoing advocacy for “separatism.” In retaliation, Taiwan labeled China as a provocateur. Additionally, Taiwan is conducting a five-day “rapid response exercise” this week, focusing on the swift mobilization of its military forces in case of China’s grey-zone military tactics or if Beijing escalates its drills into an invasion, as stated by defense officials.