Taiwan's All-Society Defense Resilience Focuses on Governance, Livelihoods, and Military Support

National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Lin Fei-fan issued a statement in Taipei, noting that the government is actively building a framework for "whole-of-society defense resilience." This framework focuses on three core objectives: ensuring the continuous operation of the government, maintaining essential livelihood functions, and supporting military needs when necessary. The remarks were made amid rising cross-strait tensions, reflecting Taiwan’s comprehensive defense mindset in the face of increasingly frequent Chinese military provocations. In recent years, as China expands its maritime and aerial forces and advances strategic initiatives such as the Belt and Road, Taiwan’s security environment has become increasingly complex. Consequently, the government has shifted its defense focus from purely military hardware to a broader construction of societal resilience.

The concept of "whole-of-society defense resilience" originated from the "National Defense and National Defense Education Outline" published by Taiwan in 2018, emphasizing collaborative cooperation among the public, enterprises, and the government. This policy argues that in the face of non-traditional threats, such as cyberattacks, information warfare, and disruptions to livelihood supply chains, the military alone cannot independently fulfill its defensive mission. Instead, a durable defense network must be formed through the complementarity and flexibility of various sectors of society. Deputy Secretary-General Lin stated that resilience is not merely about withstanding attacks, but also about the capacity for rapid recovery and continuous operation, which is precisely what the three core objectives aim to achieve.

The first objective, "continuous government operation," aims to ensure that administrative agencies can maintain basic functions under any circumstances. This includes establishing emergency command centers, securing backup systems for critical communication networks, and formulating contingency plans to enable governments at all levels to make immediate decisions during crises. The second objective, "maintaining livelihood functions," focuses on the security and stability of infrastructure such as energy, water, healthcare, and food supplies. The government has partnered with energy companies, medical institutions, and agricultural groups to establish resource reserve and distribution mechanisms, while also promoting public participation in defense training to enhance society’s overall ability to respond to emergencies. The third objective, "supporting military needs when necessary," involves linking civilian resources with military requirements to ensure that private enterprises can rapidly convert to military supply roles or assist in military training and logistical support during wartime or large-scale crises.

This whole-of-society defense framework has profound implications for Taiwan’s internal governance and international relations. From a governance perspective, the government must make further adjustments in budget allocation, legislation, and inter-departmental coordination to ensure that various measures are effectively implemented. At the citizen level, this requires the public not only to understand defense policies but also to participate in daily training and information sharing, fostering a consensus on "defense by all." Internationally, if Taiwan can demonstrate a high degree of societal resilience, it will help enhance its security image in the international community and provide a more attractive platform for international cooperation.

In light of the current situation, as Taiwan faces the dual pressures of military challenges and non-traditional security threats, adopting whole-of-society defense resilience as a core strategy signals a transition from single-dimensional military defense to a multi-layered, cross-sectoral defense model. This is not only a response to real-world threats but also a forward-looking deployment against future uncertainties. As the domestic and international political environments continue to change, how Taiwan can continuously enhance national resilience while maintaining democracy and economic prosperity will become a key focus for both future policymakers and the public. (Source: CNA)