Taiwan’s resilience must be built before a crisis

Police personnel and firefighters help evacuate people from a fake train station after a simulated attack by China during the annual Min An Civil Defense drills in New Taipei City in July 2022. | REUTERS

Oct 22, 2026

Taiwan has long been preparing for the specter of a conflict in the Taiwan Strait, with much attention given to the ability of its armed forces to deal with an attack from China through military exercises and procurement of new weaponry including missiles and drones.

But Taiwan is now also dealing with a much tougher question: What happens to an entire society when it is placed under prolonged duress?

Taiwan is not alone in facing this issue. The island democracy’s experience provides lessons for all other governments faced with the likelihood of coercion, hybrid warfare and major-power competition.

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