Description
The stand-off across the Straits of Taiwan continues to be one of the most dangerous confrontations in Asia. The technical superiority of the Taiwanese forces has been a major factor in maintaining balance, but as mainland China's armed forces modernize, Taiwan's advantages are being eroded. In response, Taiwan has recently undertaken a major reform of its armed forces.
Bringing together a wide range of experts including people who are involved in defence policy making in Taiwan, this book presents a comprehensive analysis of these reforms, and assesses their likely effectiveness. Chapters are devoted to issues including the Chinese threat, the domestic context of reform, the role of the United States and specific defence issues, making the book an invaluable guide to the changes undertaken and underway within Taiwan窶冱 strategic environment.
With a foreword by Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian, Taiwan's Defense Reform will be of interest to policy makers and academics working in this vital strategic area.
Table of Contents
Part 1: The Challenge of Defense Reform Introduction: Taiwan窶冱 Defense Reform 1. Taiwan窶冱 Defense Reform: Questions and Observations Part 2: The External Threat: Mainland China 2. China窶冱 Military Threat to Taiwan in the 21st Century: Coercion or Capture? 3. China窶冱 Military Modernization and Taiwan窶冱 Defense Reform: Programs, Problems, and Prospects Part 3: The Domestic Context of Defense Reform 4. An Overview of Taiwan窶冱 Defense Reform 5. Civilian Roles in Defense Policy-Making 6. An Analysis of the ROC窶冱 Military Organization and Force Structure 7. The Development of Taiwan窶冱 Revolution in Military Affairs after the Implementation of the 2002 National Defense Act Part 4: The Role of the US in Taiwan's Defense Reform 8. The Role of the United States in Taiwan窶冱 Defense Reform 9. Arming Taiwan for the Future: Prospects and Problems Part 5: Specific Defense Reform Issues 10. Funding for Taiwan窶冱 Defense Reform 11. The Republic of China Armed Services窶� Human Resource Policy 12. Taiwan窶冱 Military Education and Defense Reform
