Taiwan’s military can swiftly respond to any sudden assault from China under a decentralised command system that allows individual units to act without waiting for top-level approval, the island’s defence ministry said in a report submitted to lawmakers.
Decentralised Command for Rapid Response
The ministry said Taiwan’s armed forces are prepared to shift immediately from regular alert status to combat readiness if Chinese drills suddenly turn into live military operations. “If the enemy suddenly launches an attack, all units are to implement ‘distributed control’ without waiting for orders and, under a ‘decentralised’ mode of command, carry out their combat missions,” the report stated.
Officials did not elaborate on operational specifics but said the mechanism ensures that field units can maintain communication, coordination and continuity of command even if higher-level systems are disrupted during an assault.
The move reflects growing concerns in Taipei that Beijing could exploit the island’s constant vigilance by converting routine military exercises into real attacks without warning.
Escalating Chinese Military Pressure
Beijing, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, has increased military pressure over the past year through near-daily flights and naval manoeuvres around the island. Taiwan’s defence ministry described these operations as part of a “grey zone” campaign sustained military harassment designed to exhaust Taiwan’s forces and morale without triggering open conflict.
According to the report, the frequency and intensity of China’s “joint combat readiness patrols” continue to rise. The ministry warned that China’s forces have expanded their reach, sending warships deeper into the Pacific and towards Australia and New Zealand as part of joint service drills increasingly focused on real-combat conditions.
“The Chinese communists have never renounced the use of force to annex Taiwan,” the ministry said, adding that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has evolved its exercises from symbolic demonstrations to integrated, multi-domain operations.
Beijing Accuses Taipei of “Peddling War Anxiety”
China’s defence ministry dismissed the concerns, accusing Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te of “hyping up” the threat from the mainland and “peddling war anxiety.” In a statement, Beijing urged “Taiwan compatriots to clearly recognise the extreme danger and harmfulness of the Lai authorities’ frantic ‘preparing for war to seek independence’.”
Taiwan’s government, however, maintains that only its citizens have the right to determine the island’s future, rejecting Beijing’s sovereignty claims. Defence Minister Wellington Koo is scheduled to brief lawmakers further on the report on Wednesday.
As both sides continue their rhetorical and military escalation, Taiwan’s emphasis on decentralised readiness signals an attempt to ensure it can respond instantly even if caught off guard by a sudden shift from drill to war.
(with inputs from Reuters)
