ABSTRACT
As a consequence, and under pressure (a) to adjust its defense strategies to meet the expectations of the civilian government, (b) to respond to American urgency for change, and (c) to accommodate limited – and dwindling – defense resources, the Taiwanese military gradually introduced and initiated a number of military reforms. Among these was the National Defense Act of 2002, which serves as a link between the past and future. It not only addressed the predicament generated by earlier, chaotic national defense reforms, but also clearly laid out the directions for the future development of Taiwan’s national defense, such as organizational adjustments, civilian control, the nationalization of the military, single-unit military administration and command, joint operational command mechanisms, independent arms procurement systems, national defense self-determination, and a nationwide national defense structure.
