Taiwan Security Monitor (台灣安全觀測站)

NEW FROM TSM: Taiwan's army recently established drone battalions under each regional Army Corp's Artillery Command units. These battalions use both strike and reconnaissance drones, and have participated in providing drone training for other units. Want to know more about the Taiwanese army's integration of unmanned systems and other recent major reforms? Read the inaugural edition of the Taiwanese Army Reform Update on our website: tsm.schar.gmu.edu/taiwanese-army…

Source: war.gov/News/Contracts…

ARMS UPDATE: Today, the U.S. Navy awarded Forward Solutions, Inc., a US$12.39 million contract for command, control, communications, and computers (C4) enterprise services and other cybersecurity capabilities for Taiwan. This contract includes four one-year extension options, which if taken would raise the value to US$68.07 million. FMS funds in an unknown amount will be obligated. Work is expected to be completed between April 2027 and April 2031 if options are exercised.

Source: ydn.com.tw/tw/News/ugC_Ne…

On May 11, Taiwan’s 234th Combined Arms Brigade conducted live-fire tank gunnery training at the Southern Region Joint Training and Testing Center. Tank crews from the brigade’s 1st Combined Arms Battalion operated CM11 tanks in static gunnery drills, engaging calibration targets at 1,200 meters.

🇹🇼Check out TSM's Weekly Taiwan Security Review covering May 4th-11th! Each week, TSM Fellow @JaimeOcon1 highlights key developments around Taiwan on our website! In this edition: • The Legislative Yuan passes a revised defense budget proposed by the KMT/TPP. • Officials confirm Taiwan plans to forward deploy HIMARS systems to several outlying islands. • Taiwan's first indigenous submarine, the Hai Kun, tests its weapon systems for the first time. Read the full report below on our website: tsm.schar.gmu.edu/weekly-securit…

Source: ydn.com.tw/tw/News/ugC_Ne…

On May 10, Taiwan's 269th Combined Arms Brigade conducted joint 81mm and 120mm mortar training at the Northern Region Joint Training and Testing Center. The drills simulated a “total defense” operation and included occupation of firing positions, fire-direction coordination, communications checks, and safety inspections.

NEW: China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released a statement officially confirming that President Trump will make a state visit to China from May 13th-15th.

Source: taipeitimes.com/News/front/arc…

Taiwanese military sources this week confirmed earlier reporting that Taiwan plans to forward deploy HIMARS rocket systems to Penghu and Dongyin, within strike range of coastal PLA bases. Our visualization shows the range of these deployments, with both GMLRS and ATACMS munitions.

On Thursday, the U.S. DoD Office of Inspector General released another audit of Presidential Drawdown Authority equipment sent to Taiwan. Similar to earlier audits, some equipment was improperly packed and damaged, but improvements were made in rifle packaging. This audit did not apply to ongoing FMS/DCS sales to Taiwan, such as a recent delivery of Abrams tanks. Read TSM researcher @joconnor04's thread on the IG report below.

Source: cna.com.tw/news/aipl/2026…, cna.com.tw/news/aipl/2026…

Meanwhile, Kuomintang Chairwoman Cheng Li-wen reacted to the LY passing a budget ceiling bill today by saying that the "Blue-White" (KMT-TPP) coalition "acted with great responsibility" and that the LY cannot be reduced to a rubber stamp for the executive, supporting only military procurement items authorized by the U.S. government. Taiwan People's Party (TPP) Chairman Huang Kuo-chang also stated to press that his party will "not tolerate corruption or waste," reiterating the TPP's desire to strengthen oversight of defense spending, and complimented Cheng for her work to advance the bill through the legislature.

Sources: cna.com.tw/news/aipl/2026…, cna.com.tw/news/aipl/2026…, cna.com.tw/news/aipl/2026…

Reacting to the passage of a special defense budget ceiling of NT$780 billion today by the Legislative Yuan, President Lai Ching-te expressed concerns that funding was not provided for domestic production or manufacturing of drones. DPP spokesperson Li Kuncheng also accused opposition parties of failing to heed warnings about defense and blocking past consideration of the budget. MND officials also indicated that indigenous programs, including Strong Bow ABM systems, "Sharp Kite" drones, and the Team Awareness Kit (TAK) might be delayed, as no funding for their continued development is in the budget. x.com/TaiwanMonitor/…

Read April's update here: tsm.schar.gmu.edu/strait-snapsho…

6/6 Figure 6 shows the year-over-year drop in April air activity, with 229 total sorties and 169 median line crossings in April 2026, down from 546 sorties and 364 crossings in April 2025. TSM’s analysis finds that lower air totals do not equate to de-escalation when naval and CCG pressure persist.

2/6 Figure 2 shows that April interrupted the consecutive monthly decline seen in Q1. PLA sortie totals rose from 173 in March to 229 in April, but remained well below April 2025’s 546 sorties. The pattern suggests March was a floor, not necessarily the start of a sustained downward trend.