Naval News – Taiwan highlighted its national defense plans against a Chinese invasion during the height of Beijing’s military drills around the island last month, revealing a map detailing potential defense lines and strategies against an attack from the mainland. 

Australian Strategic Policy Institute – Bill Sweetman writes that Ukraine’s massive drone strike against Russian air bases on 1 June should reverberate across all theaters of conflict. But there is one Western Pacific scenario where it could be very relevant indeed: a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

Defence Blog – Taiwan’s domestically built Hai Kun submarine experienced a serious hydraulic system failure during sea trials, temporarily leaving the vessel without powered control of its X-shaped stern rudder and forcing sailors to rely on manual steering to avoid an accident, according to an exclusive report by Mirror Media.

(Thanks to Alain)

Defence Blog – Taiwan’s Navy issued a public request for reference materials on a naval suicide drone system, including a USV, portable control station, mobile command vehicle, and relay station. The unmanned vessel must reach at least 35 knots, operate up to 250 nautical miles, and support swarming and jamming-resistant communications.

(Thanks to Alain)

Global Times – The island of Taiwan’s “indigenous” submarine Hai Kun, which the armed forces on the island had confidently claimed would be delivered in November, has not only failed to complete basic underwater navigation tests but has recently been reported to have problems such as “uninstalled anchors” and “unintegrated watertight door systems.” This has drawn sharp criticism within the island for “endangering crew members’ lives.” 

(Thanks to Alain)

USNI News – A Taiwanese drone firm held sea trials with six unmanned surface vessels last month ahead of a roughly $1 billion project that aims to procure up to 1,350 sea drones for coastal defense purposes against a potential Chinese invasion.

USNI News – The following is the Republic of China’s 2025 National Defense Report. 

The War Zone – A long-range kamikaze drone that U.S. firm Kratos is working on together with Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) is set to make its maiden flight early next year. The jet-powered Chien Feng IV (Mighty Hornet IV) will feature artificial intelligence (AI) enabled systems and is being developed with a particular eye toward use as an anti-ship weapon. It could also be employed against targets on land and act as a decoy.

Covert Shores – Taiwanese shipbuilder Longteh Shipbuilding has revealed the ‘Black Whale‘ XLUUV at the TADTE2025 (Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition) exhibition in Taipai.

Naval News – Taiwan is now rapidly developing a naval drone capability. Several types have been seen being trialled with a range of armaments. These vessels, known as USVs, could enable Taiwan to disrupt and weaken an invasion fleet headed for the island.

Naval News – Taiwan’s first Indigenous Defense Submarine (IDS), Hai Kun (SS-711), successfully completed its maiden sea trial on June 17, according to the vessel’s builder, CSBC Corporation.

The War Zone – Faced with the growing threat of an invasion by the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Taiwanese military and industrial leaders will hold a two-day demonstration of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs). Scheduled for June 17 and June 18, the demonstration is designed to help speed up the island nation’s maritime drone production

Defense One – As China applies increasing military pressure against Taiwan, it’s worth considering an earlier era when conditions were much worse. In the fall of 1958, four countries—United States, Soviet Union, People’s Republic of China and the Republic of China (Taiwan)—found themselves on the brink of nuclear war. The incident, which would later be known as the second Taiwan Strait Crisis, led to a rupture in Sino-Soviet relations and altered the trajectory of the Cold War. Revisiting it reminds us of an element of deterrence that is getting short shrift today.

RUSI – This policy brief traces the emergence and defining features of the grey zone concept, looking at China’s actions and Taiwan’s responses.

The War Zone – Taiwan has not moved as fast as some may have expected to build an uncrewed surface vessel force, but that appears to be changing.

Naval News – Dr. Scott Savitz, a senior engineer at the RAND Corporation, returns with this historical analysis of France’s invasion of Taiwan in 1884-85, where the defenders were Chinese. If Taiwan resists any future invasion by China, these historical lessons might pave the way to future deterrence, battlefield tactics, and strategies.

The War Zone – The torpedo tube-equipped Huilong is apparently intended as a test craft, but could well help shape Taiwan’s future underwater fleet.

VOA – Taiwan is stepping up efforts to strengthen its capabilities to respond to a potential military blockade by China, as Beijing increases military pressure on the democratically ruled island.

Naval News – China announced that it had launched military drills code-named “Joint Sword 2024B” around Taiwan early in the morning on October 14, 2024. In response, Taiwan’s defense ministry revealed that it had deployed warships, fighter jets, UAVs, and mobile anti-ship missile batteries.

China Maritime Studies Institute – During World War II, the United States and the Empire of Japan each developed plans and marshaled forces for a climactic battle over Taiwan. Both sides regarded the island as an area of strategic consequence…By revisiting the history of Taiwan-focused war plans, we may better assess current challenges and develop insights that could inform future strategic, operational, and tactical decisions.

Taiwan News – Taiwan’s first indigenous submarine, the “Narwhal,” attracted onlookers as it docked at a pier in Kaohsiung harbor Saturday.

(Thanks to Alain)

Taiwan News – Budgets for seven new submarines will only be activated after tests are completed for the country’s first indigenous submarine.

(Thanks to Alain)

The War Zone – Masses of loitering munitions could engage approaching Chinese landing craft, as well as targets ashore, and overwhelm vessels in the Taiwan Strait.

War on the Rocks – This strange defeat remains a remarkably underexplored historical case study in the fields of security studies and defense analysis. This is somewhat surprising, given its apparent educational value and strategic relevance to some of the most pressing contemporary military challenges in the Indo-Pacific theater.

War on the Rocks – In October 1884, as part of the wider Sino-French War, a contingent of heavily armed French warships sailed toward the harbor of Tamsui, in northern Taiwan. When the fleet approached the estuary of the Tamsui River, nine naval mines and boats loaded with stones blocked its path. Prevented from sailing into Taipei, French commanders dispatched their marines, but they fared little better. After several hours of fighting on land they were driven back into the sea. Today, Taiwan again faces the threat of invasion — this time from China. As Taiwan’s leaders consider their defensive options, the Battle of Tamsui may also hold answers.