Outnumbered but Not Outgunned: Taiwan's President Vows to Resist Chinese Aggression with New Thinking

In the shadow of a looming threat from China, Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te has delivered a message of resilience and innovation to his country's armed forces. During an address to air force officers, Lai, clad in camouflaged military fatigues, drew inspiration from history, emphasizing that smaller militaries have often triumphed over larger adversaries. His comments come as Taiwan prepares for its annual Han Kuang military exercises, scheduled to begin on July 22, which aim to simulate real combat conditions in response to the increasing threat from China.

For the past four years, China has been conducting regular military exercises around Taiwan, attempting to pressure the democratically governed island to accept Beijing's claims of sovereignty. Despite being vastly outnumbered by China's military might, Taiwan is not deterred. Instead, it has been modernizing its armed forces with new equipment such as submarines and adopting "asymmetric warfare" strategies. These strategies include the use of vehicle-mounted missiles and drones, designed to make Taiwan's military more mobile and difficult to target.

Lai's remarks were made at an air base in central Taiwan, where he stood in front of a Taiwan-made Ching-kuo Indigenous Defence Fighter. He stressed that military strength is not merely a matter of numbers. "The amount of equipment admittedly is important, but it cannot represent the military power of a country," he said. "In history, there are many cases where the few win out over the many, and there are countless ways to win over old-fashioned enemies with new thinking."

The upcoming Han Kuang exercises, alongside the Wan An civil defense drills, will involve cities briefly shutting down to simulate air raids, reflecting the seriousness of the threat perceived from China. A senior Taiwan official noted that this year's drills would closely mimic actual combat scenarios, moving away from merely symbolic displays of strength.

China's reaction to Taiwan's military preparations has been predictably aggressive. Shortly after Lai took office in May, China conducted two days of war games around Taiwan, which it described as "punishment" for Lai's inauguration speech, criticizing it for containing separatist sentiments. Despite Beijing's hostility, Lai has repeatedly offered talks, asserting that only Taiwan's people can determine their future.

"The peace we want is a peace with a solid foundation, a true peace that must be established by our own strength," Lai declared at the Taichung air base. He rebuffed any notions that Taiwan was gearing up for war, emphasizing that the island nation is committed to peace but must be prepared to defend itself. "Some people may have such misgivings but everyone knows we are a peace-loving country," he said. "But the peace we want is a 'true peace' that has a solid foundation and is established by our own strength."

China has consistently dismissed Taiwan's defense efforts, labeling them as futile in the face of what it sees as inevitable reunification. However, Lai's stance is clear: Taiwan will continue to resist Chinese aggression with new thinking and innovative strategies, demonstrating that being outnumbered does not equate to being outgunned.

As the Han Kuang exercises approach, Taiwan's military and civilian population remain resolute, drawing strength from their leadership's commitment to maintaining their sovereignty and peace through preparedness and modernized defense tactics.