‘Valuable Model’: Taiwan’s President Lauds Israel’s Air Defenses After Announcing Iron Dome Style System

Latest Developments

• Taiwanese President Says Country Can Learn From Israel: Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te praised Israel’s military defenses as a model for his country while speaking to an American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) delegation on October 27. “The Taiwanese people often look to the example of the Jewish people when facing challenges to our international standing and threats to our sovereignty from China,” he stated. “Israel’s determination and capacity to defend its territory provides a valuable model for Taiwan,” Lai added.
• Taiwan in Good Standing With Israel: Although Jerusalem does not have formalized diplomatic relations with Taiwan, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Tel Aviv acts as Taiwan’s diplomatic mission in Israel, and an Israeli representative is stationed at the Israeli Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei. Taiwan also backed Israel following the Hamas-led atrocities on October 7, 2023, with Taipei’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issuing a statement condemning “the indiscriminate attacks against Israelis carried out by Hamas” and declaring its “solidarity with Israel.”
• T-Dome Unveiled in Early October: Lai announced on October 10 that Taiwan will begin developing an air defense system called the “T-Dome” to assist in protecting the island amidst growing threats from China. “We will accelerate our building of the T-Dome, establish a rigorous air defense system in Taiwan with multi-layer defense, high-level detection, and effective interception, and weave a safety net for Taiwan to protect the lives and property of citizens,” Lai stated. He told the AIPAC delegation that Taipei had been inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome system, as well as U.S. President Donald Trump’s planned “Golden Dome” air and missile defense system. “Trilateral Taiwan-U.S.-Israel cooperation can help achieve regional peace, stability, and prosperity,” Lai asserted.

FDD Expert Response

“President Lai is smart to look to Israel as a model for fighting authoritarian coercion. While the fight with China would be much different (and more difficult) than the enemies Israel confronts, Taipei needs to design a reserve military force consistent with the IDF. Taiwan will need an integrated air and missile defense effort that is similar to — but necessarily much more complex than — what Israel fields because Taiwan’s adversary is significantly more capable.” — RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, Senior Fellow and Senior Director of FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation

“Taiwan sees in Israel a fellow democracy that is fighting for freedom and sovereignty. The two countries have much in common, including being staunch and valuable allies of the United States.” — Enia Krivine, Senior Director of FDD’s Israel Program and National Security Network

“Americans and our partners in Taiwan and elsewhere can benefit significantly from Israel’s technological prowess, culture of military preparedness, sense of urgency, and hard-won lessons learned regarding the changing character of warfare. Building on successful existing mechanisms such as the U.S.-Israel Operations-Technology Working Group, Washington should ensure that formal mechanisms are established and held accountable for results, focusing on the expeditious and effective sharing of military technologies, know-how, and capabilities more widely across America’s military services and network of allies and partners. We have much to learn from Israel and Ukraine, and we can better deter aggression and save lives if we ensure this collaboration and knowledge sharing is systematic, not episodic and ad hoc. China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, members of the Axis of Aggressors, understand the value of partners. Do we?” — Bradley Bowman, Senior Director of FDD’s Center of Military and Political Power

FDD Background and Analysis

“China Creates ‘Nature Reserve’ To Boost Its Sovereignty Claims in the South China Sea,” by Jack Burnham

“10 Takeaways From Simulated Attacks on Taiwan’s Energy Sector,” by RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, Johanna Yang, Craig Singleton, and Jack Burnham

“China’s Military Parade Showcases Advanced Weapons and Growing Ties With Russia, Iran, and North Korea,” by Ryan Brobst, Jack Burnham, and Bradley Bowman

“Arsenal of Democracy,” by Ryan Brobst and Bradley Bowman