Taiwan Plans Deepened US Military Collaboration Amid Rising China Pressure

Taiwan is significantly expanding its defense cooperation with the United States amid rising military and political pressure from China. The 24th US-Taiwan Defense Industry Conference highlighted plans for the highest-ever volume of US arms sales to Taiwan in 2026, contingent on the approval of Taiwan's new special defense budget aimed at increasing defense spending to over 3 percent of GDP. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense outlined initiatives including reciprocal visits, joint military exercises, intelligence sharing, and strategic dialogues to enhance interoperability and maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait. The US remains Taiwan's most important strategic partner despite lacking formal diplomatic ties, providing critical military support such as F-16 pilot training. Taiwan accuses China of normalized harassment, psychological coercion, and tactical deterrence through joint combat-readiness patrols, viewing these actions as a severe regional security challenge. Japan also declared intentions to strengthen a stable and constructive relationship with Taiwan, emphasizing Taiwan's importance as a close partner amid the regional tensions.