Revisiting the offense-defense balance: drone warfare and Taiwan’s asymmetrical defense strategy - Institute for Security and Development Policy
AI Analysis
The article analyzes Taiwan's use of drone warfare within its asymmetric defense strategy against Chinese military pressure. It highlights the potential of UAVs to enhance Taiwan's defense by increasing attrition and complicating logistics, while emphasizing the need for cost-effective procurement and countermeasures against PLA advancements.
Key Takeaways
- Taiwan employs UAVs to strengthen its asymmetric defense strategy.
- Drones can increase attrition and complicate logistics for adversaries.
- Effective drone use requires cost-effective procurement and production resilience.
- Taiwan must adapt its doctrines and counter PLA's drone advancements.
- Technological symmetry with China is crucial for maintaining deterrence.
Why It Matters
The strategic use of drones by Taiwan could shift the balance of power in the Taiwan Strait, complicating Chinese military operations and enhancing Taiwan's defensive capabilities. Maintaining technological parity with China is critical for Taiwan to deter aggression and ensure regional stability.
Revisiting the offense-defense balance: drone warfare and Taiwan’s asymmetrical defense strategy - Institute for Security and Development Policy Revisiting the offense-defense balance: drone warfare and Taiwan’s asymmetrical defense strategy - Institute for Security and Development Policy
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Revisiting the offense-defense balance: drone warfare and Taiwan’s asymmetrical defense strategy
Journal Article March, 2026
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Chinese activities in the Taiwan Strait have intensified pressure on Taiwan’s defense. Using offensive-defense balance (ODB) theory as an analytical framework, this paper evaluates the role of drone warfare in Taiwan’s asymmetric strategy through four indicators derived from Glaser and Kaufmann: cost, territorial goals, optimality, and force employment. It argues that UAVs can enhance Taiwan’s defensive position by increasing attrition, complicating logistics, and raising uncertainty prior to conflict. However, this defensive advantage is conditional and requires cost-effective procurement, production resilience, doctrinal adaptation, and the ability to counter PLA countermeasures. As China accelerates drone capacity, Taiwan’s ability to maintain technological symmetry becomes central to preserving deterrence. The paper argues drones compress adaptation and render the ODB in the Taiwan Strait dynamic rather than structurally fixed.
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