Taiwan Ruling Party Pushes to Shoulder Greater Defense Burden While Opposition Seeks Greater U.S. Dependency

Taiwan military photo courtesy of Taiwan OCAC

In response to Beijing’s tightening political control and leadership purges within the PLA in early 2026, Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party has accelerated its $40 billion Special Budget for asymmetric warfare. Taipei views the consolidation of power under Chinese leader Xi Jinping as a shift from gray-zone coercion toward preparation for a potential 2027 invasion window. U.S. officials assess that the PLA is nearing the capability to conduct missile strikes...