Title page 1

Contents 3

List of acronyms and abbreviations 5

About the author 6

Abstract 7

CHAPTER 1. Introduction 8

CHAPTER 2. Historical context 9

The era of Chiangs in command, 1949-1986 9

The era of democratic transition, 1986-2000 9

The era of democratic government turnovers, 2000-2024 10

CHAPTER 3. External balancing strategies: international military cooperation and defense diplomacy 12

CHAPTER 4. Internal balancing strategies (1): establishing the effectiveness of the defense sector 15

CHAPTER 5. Internal balancing strategies (2): accountability and democratic control of the armed forces 21

CHAPTER 6. Learning lessons with a view of Ukraine's post-war Security Sector Reform 23

References 25

Appendix 1. Taiwan's defense organizational structure and authorities 31

Appendix 2. US arms sales to Taiwan, 1990-2023 32

Appendix 3. Taiwan-China military balance - Taiwan Strait Military Balance, Ground Forces 33

Appendix 4. Taiwan-China military balance - Taiwan Strait Military Balance, Air Forces 33

Appendix 5. Taiwan-China military balance - Taiwan Strait Military Balance, Naval Forces 34

Table 1. Phases of Taiwan's political development and civil-military relations 11

Figure 1. Taiwan's defense budget, 2004-2024 13

Figure 2. Taiwan's defense budget and its GDP percentage, 2004-2024 13

Figure 3. Changes in Taiwan's compulsory military service 19