Taiwan
Spotlight
The Republic of China (better known as Taiwan) is a significant flashpoint in East Asia. While Taiwan pursued—and abandoned—nuclear weapons programs in the past, its current relationship to nonproliferation regimes remains ambiguous, as most countries do not recognize its sovereignty.
Taiwan is included in NTI analysis due to its autonomous nuclear regulatory structure.
See Taiwan's preformance in:
Region East Asia and the Pacific
3 Nuclear power reactors in operation
2014 Renewed agreement with US on peaceful nuclear energy cooperation
1,200-2,000 km Range of the Yun Feng supersonic cruise missile
Nuclear
- Nuclear plants subject to IAEA inspections
- Cannot independently join Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, but unilaterally adheres to its provisions
- Signed an accord with China in 2011 on nuclear safety and emergency reporting
Tutorial on Nuclear 101
Biological
- Denies past accusations of bioweapon development
- Ratified the BWC in 1973 as the Republic of China; membership later transferred to People’s Republic of China
- Cannot independently join BWC, but unilaterally adheres to its provisions
Tutorial on Biological Weapons Nonproliferation
NTI Tutorials
Missile
- Has historically focused on developing antiship cruise missiles and short range ballistic missiles (SRBMs)
- Yun Feng supersonic cruise missiles capable of striking mainland China in production
- Purchased upgraded Patriot Missiles (PAC-3) from U.S., expected deployment in 2026
Overview of The CNS Missile and SLV Launch Databases
China’s Growing Missile Arsenal and the Risk of a “Taiwan Missile Crisis“
Chemical
- Cannot independently join the CWC regime, but unilaterally adheres to its provisions
- Officials have denied ever developing offensive chemical weapons
Tutorial on Chemical Weapons Nonproliferation
NTI Tutorials
Treaties and Regimes Memberships
Analysis
Taiwan
Investing in Global Health Security: How to Build a Fund for Pandemic Preparedness in 2022
On April 21, 2022, immediately after G20 finance ministers and central bank governors reached consensus to establish a new Fund for preparedness at the World Bank, a group of leading experts and stakeholders from governments, civil society, academia, and multilateral institutions working in global health, global health security, and biodefense met to review progress and offer advice on next steps. This paper, published jointly by NTI and the Pandemic Action Network, aims to inform next steps to structure, approve, and launch a new Fund, including the forthcoming consultative process led by the World Bank.
Investigating High-Consequence Biological Events of Unknown Origin
Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation
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7 am EDT / 1 pm CEST
Depicting Nuclear Risk Accurately: The Likely Global Effects of Nuclear Weapons in the 21st Century
Education Center