Taiwan’s Whole-of-Society Defence Resilience Model and Beijing’s Grey Zone Aggression
Taiwan’s Whole-of-Society Defence Resilience Model and Beijing’s Grey Zone Aggression
By Professor Sascha-Dominik (Dov) Bachmann for the Australian Institute of International Affairs
Below is a short survey of this insightful piece. As always, we recommend that you read the full piece for a deeper dive.
Strategic Context: The Shifting Geopolitical Landscape
Due to escalating tensions, Taiwan has developed a sophisticated national resilience strategy to counter China’s multifaceted aggressive tactics. This article examines how Taiwan is preparing for potential conflict through a comprehensive whole-of-society approach, strategically responding to Beijing’s grey zone operations that blur the lines between peace and war.
U.S. Strategic Pivot and Taiwan’s Defense Priority
Under the Trump 2.0 administration, U.S. strategic focus has pivoted decisively towards the Asia-Pacific region, with the Department of Defense prioritizing Taiwan’s defense as a critical pacing scenario. Beijing’s aggression manifests through provocative military exercises, maritime harassment, and systematic incursions into Taiwan’s Air Defence Identification Zone. This demonstrates a calculated strategy to erode Taiwan’s sovereignty.
The Whole-of-Society Resilience Model: A Comprehensive Defense Strategy
The core of Taiwan’s defense strategy is the Whole-of-Society Resilience model. This model was established through key institutional mechanisms like the All-Out Defence Mobilization Agency (ADMA) and the Whole-of-Society Defence Resilience Committee. This approach integrates civilian force training, strategic material preparation, critical infrastructure protection, and comprehensive social welfare readiness across five critical lines of effort. Drawing inspiration from Nordic total defense models, Taiwan is creating a holistic defense ecosystem that mobilizes government, civil society, and industry to resist potential aggression.
Philosophical Foundations: Beyond Traditional Warfare
Notably, the strategy draws from Sun Tzu’s principle of “winning without fighting.” The focus is to counter China’s hybrid warfare concept of “unrestricted warfare” through a multi-domain resilience approach. The model emphasizes psychological preparedness, strategic communication, and comprehensive national readiness to deter and resist potential Chinese intervention.
