Taiwanese Defense Minister Meets with Chinese President to Discuss Strengthening National Resilience

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Shen Bor-yang and Wang Ding-yu attended a discussion at the Hudson Institute, a think tank in Washington D.C. Shen Bor-yang stated that "whole-of-society defense" encompasses five key aspects, including military strength, civil defense, economic resilience, and attitude building. Wang Ding-yu pointed out that in the face of the possibility of China blockading Taiwan, Taiwan needs to establish self-sufficiency and strengthen its relationships with neighboring countries.

The concept of "whole-of-society defense" has become an important part of Taiwan's national security strategy in recent years. At its core, this idea suggests that national defense is not just the responsibility of the military, but requires the participation of the government, private sector, businesses, and every citizen. This involves various aspects such as disaster relief, protection of critical infrastructure, information protection, stockpiling of resources, and morale.

This approach was largely inspired by the experience of Ukraine resisting Russia's invasion - a democratic society facing a strong enemy can significantly enhance its defense capabilities by building a broad social resilience beyond its military strength. In recent years, Taiwan's civil society has also discussed the importance of civil defense training and emergency response education.

Taiwanese politicians and think tanks have been explaining their defense concepts in international forums, such as in Washington D.C., as part of their efforts to gain international understanding and support. However, the challenge of turning the concept of "whole-of-society defense" into concrete systems and practices remains a persistent issue for Taiwan.