To Understand Israel, Look to Taiwan

Despite being separated by more than 8,300 kilometers, Israel and Taiwan stand as pivotal centers of global geopolitics. Each strives to safeguard its democratic and peaceful ways of life amid some of the world’s most contested environments. To understand Israel’s defense strategy, it is helpful to compare it to Taiwan.

Strategic Geography

Israel occupies a unique crossroads at the intersection of Europe, Asia, and Africa—a region that has shaped world religion and commerce for millennia. Today, it remains a solitary democratic outpost surrounded by 22 Arab countries, navigating a landscape of historic significance and persistent volatility. Taiwan, meanwhile, sits at the heart of one of the world’s most strategic regions, anchoring the first island chain of U.S.-aligned partners—including Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines—directly facing the rising power of China. The island’s position carries profound military, economic, and geopolitical consequences for the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

Geography and Demographics

Geographically and demographically, Israel and Taiwan share notable similarities. Taiwan is the larger of the two, spanning 36,000 square kilometers—about 1.6 times the size of Israel’s 22,000 square kilometers. Taiwan’s population stands at 24 million, more than double Israel’s 10 million. Both nations, however, boast comparable economic strength, with GDPs between $565 and $585 billion, and both enjoy life expectancies exceeding 80 years.

Political Systems and Democratic Values

Politically, Israel and Taiwan are robust democracies, anchored by strong institutions and pluralistic societies that uphold civil liberties. Yet, each faces acute security challenges shaped by their geography. Israel contends with a Middle East in perpetual turmoil, surrounded by unstable neighbors and non-state armed groups, complicating its security calculus and making regional solutions elusive. Taiwan, for its part, endures unrelenting pressure from the People’s Republic of China, which seeks unification and employs a sophisticated mix of cyber-attacks, economic leverage, influence operations, and a growing military presence in the Taiwan Strait.

Economic Strength and Innovation

Economically, Israel has earned its reputation as the “Start-Up Nation,” excelling in software, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and research and development, while leading globally in fintech, medical, and agricultural technology. Taiwan, in turn, is a hardware powerhouse, producing over 60% of the world’s semiconductors and nearly all AI chips. Both countries are home to major technology firms such as Nvidia, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon, underscoring their centrality to global innovation and supply chains.

Military Posture and Threat Environment

On the military front, Israel ranks 15th and Taiwan 22nd globally, each maintaining a standing force of about 170,000 active-duty personnel. Israel is recognized for its technological edge and extensive combat experience, while Taiwan’s military is structured for asymmetric defense against a vastly larger adversary. Israel faces existential threats from the Arab League countries with close to half a billion people as well as from the Islamic Republic of Iran, which openly pursues nuclear weapons capabilities that could threaten Israel’s existence. Taiwan, meanwhile, lies just 100 miles from China—a nation of 1.4 billion with an explicit goal of “reunification,” by force if necessary.

Deterrence Strategies: Cactus and Porcupine

Both countries have developed distinctive deterrence strategies tailored to their unique threats: Israel’s metaphor of the “Sabra” anchors its defense like cactus spines, and Taiwan’s is modeled like porcupine quills, both serving as prickly defensive and deterrence mechanisms designed to make a smaller state “indigestible” to a much larger adversary. Israel’s “Cactus” strategy emphasizes toughness, resilience, and the ability to deliver rapid, decisive blows to any adversary, combining advanced defense technologies, counterterrorism, and offensive capabilities to maintain deterrence. Taiwan’s “Porcupine” strategy is rooted in asymmetric defense, aiming to make any invasion by China prohibitively costly and complex through layered, guerrilla-style tactics and international support.

U.S. Support and Strategic Partnerships

The United States plays a crucial role in supporting both nations. For Israel, the U.S. ensures a qualitative military edge through sustained military aid and advanced technology transfers. For Taiwan, the U.S. provides vital defense support and maintains a policy of strategic ambiguity, reinforcing deterrence while keeping options open in the event of conflict.

Conclusion

In sum, Israel and Taiwan share striking parallels in geography, population, political values, economic dynamism, and military strategy. Both face existential threats from far larger adversaries and rely on innovative military deterrence doctrines—Israel’s Cactus and Taiwan’s Porcupine—bolstered by strong U.S. support. Their resilience and commitment to democracy and independence not only shape their futures but also serve as fortresses of stability and hope in regions marked by uncertainty and contestation.