The summer and early fall of 2007 saw what could be the start of a slow-brewing crisis of sorts, stemming from responses by both Beijing and Washington to Taipei’s reinvigorated interest in regaining membership in the United Nations (UN). The movement towards applying for UN membership under the name Taiwan has significant popular support in Taiwan. Fueled by election-year politics, it has taken on real momentum and has attracted not only the attention but also the ire of both the United States and China. In fact, the U.S. reaction has been such that there are real concerns about its potentially lasting impact on U.S. policy regarding defense sales to Taiwan.

This quarterly report examines the major developments in Taiwan’s political environment during July, August, and September of 2007, an environment that both defines and limits focus in the defense and national security arena. The report continues our survey of the national security platform of each of the two principal candidates in the 2008 presidential election, examines their views on Taiwan’s future defense and foreign policies and on cross-Strait relations, and offers an overview of their respective decision-making circles. Finally, also included are the usual review of the status of defense policy matters, the defense budget, U.S.-Taiwan security cooperation, and major procurement programs.

Executive Summary: Taiwan Defense & Security Report – Q3, 2007

In Taiwan, end of party primaries for the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections, to be held early in 2008, finally offered a much welcomed breakthrough in the long-stalemated defense budget, a budget that was finally approved during the second quarter of 2007. Completion of the party nomination process also effectively kicked off the election season, however, which could mean further partisan battles and much campaign politicking in the coming year.

This report reviews the significant events in the areas of Taiwan defense and national security during April, May and June of 2007. The analysis also surveys the major political developments which ultimately made the budget breakthrough possible, and which will continue to influence Taiwan’s national security policy arena for the rest of the year.

As a new feature, the quarterly reports will begin to look at the national security platform of each of the two principal presidential candidates, their views on Taiwan’s future defense and foreign policies and cross-Strait relations, and an overview of their respective decision-making circles. Finally, also included are the usual reviews of the status of defense policy matters, the defense budget, U.S.-Taiwan security cooperation, and major procurement programs.

Executive Summary: Taiwan Defense & Security Report – Q2, 2007

Seemingly endless political wrangling, the obvious election-year mentality shown by Taiwan politicians, and having the government’s general operating budget – of which the defense budget is a part – trapped in the Legislative Yuan (LY) due to disagreements over the composition of the Central Election Commission (CEC) made for a frustrating first quarter of 2007. Nevertheless, meaningful progress continues to be made in Taiwan in many areas of interest to the defense and national security community both in Taiwan and abroad.

This quarterly report provides a summary of major political developments over the past three months, developments that will shape the playing field for important defense and national security issues – or indeed for all of Taiwan’s significant public policy decisions – in the coming year. The report also includes the usual review of the status of defense policy matters in Taiwan, an update on the defense budget, notes on U.S.-Taiwan security cooperation during the quarter, and an update on the major Taiwan procurement programs.

Executive Summary: Taiwan Defense & Security Report – Q1, 2007

Despite some notable progress, 2006 was largely a year of continued frustrations in Taiwan’s national security policy arena, a situation fueled by partisan feuds, political scandals, and turmoil. As the year drew to a close, however, a number of early but potentially promising signs did begin to emerge, although it remains to be seen how the expected consolidations within the major political factions in 2007 will impact Taiwan’s defense and national security endeavors.

This report provides a brief overview of significant developments in the defense and security arena in Taiwan during 2006, and offers some perspectives on the larger environmental factors that have, and will continue to, influence Taiwan’s national security-related activities in the coming year.

Executive Summary: Taiwan Defense & Security Report – Annual Review, 2006