In October, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense published its biennial National Defense Report (NDR), which describes the state of Taiwan's security environment, as well as the goals for and challenges to developing the island nation's military. Much geopolitical analysis about Taiwan focuses on the motivations and capabilities of the United States and China, given the likelihood that a Chinese attempt to invade Taiwan would bring the two into conflict. This ministerial report, however, provides an opportunity to examine the Taiwanese government's view on the matter, which will inform Taipei's engagement with China and the West during the second half of President William Lai's four-year term, the last two years of Chinese President Xi Jinping's third (but not final) five-year term, the next two years of Donald Trump's unpredictable presidency in the United States — and a period involving 2027, the oft-cited date by which Xi has ordered the Chinese military...