Defense Architecture Transformation: Retaining 'Two Periods,' Deleting 'Three Stages,' Incorporating Deep Defense
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense has adjusted its 'Joint Operations Plan' in response to threats from the Chinese Communist Party's gray zone tactics and military incursions. The previous 'two periods, three stages' framework will now retain 'two periods' but remove 'three stages,' while adding preparedness deployment, deep defense, and protracted warfare to enhance the continuity of peace-to-war readiness.
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- 📰 Published: May 3, 2026 at 12:19
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The Central News Agency reported today (Taipei, May 3rd, Central News Agency reporter You Kai-hsiang) that in response to the Chinese Communist Party's gray zone tactics, aircraft and vessel incursions, and the threat of transitioning from exercises to actual combat, the Ministry of National Defense has confirmed an adjustment to its 'Joint Operations Plan.' The original framework of 'two periods, three stages' has been adjusted to retain 'two periods' and remove 'three stages,' while adding measures such as preparedness deployment, deep defense, and protracted warfare. This aims to connect preparedness actions between peace and wartime, and enhance the efficiency of peace-to-war transition.
The ROC Armed Forces have long followed a 'two periods, three stages' defense operations framework. The 'two periods' are divided into 'normal readiness period' and 'defense operations period,' while the 'three stages' include 'readiness preparations,' 'emergency operations,' and 'all-out combat.' However, as the Chinese Communist Party's threats against Taiwan have become more complex and diverse, blurring the lines between peace and war, the traditional division of 'emergency operations' has struggled to fully cover the current reality of 'transitioning from exercises to actual combat' or 'normalized blockade.'
According to sources, the Ministry of National Defense has revised the framework, retaining the original 'two periods' and deleting the 'three stages.' Under the 'normal readiness period,' 'preparedness deployment' and 'level two, level one enhanced alert' have been added. Under the 'defense operations period,' 'joint anti-landing and coastal strikes,' 'beachhead combat,' and 'deep defense and protracted warfare' have been added.
When interviewed by the Central News Agency, the Ministry of National Defense confirmed that to effectively counter the Chinese Communist Party's gray zone harassment and the threat of sudden military escalation, the ROC Armed Forces have adjusted the scope of application of the 'Joint Operations Plan.' This extends from the original 'wartime' command and action planning to cover 'peacetime' preparedness deployment and situation handling, thereby connecting preparedness actions between peace and wartime and enhancing the efficiency of peace-to-war transition.
The Ministry of National Defense emphasized that the ROC Armed Forces' readiness levels and operational stage divisions are dynamically adjusted in response to various possible actions by the Communist forces to invade Taiwan. Regarding sensitive information, no further details were provided.
Wang Hung-jen, CEO of the Institute for National Policy Research, told the Central News Agency that the previous 'two periods, three stages' was based on a traditional war imagination, assuming conflicts would have clear escalation processes. However, observing the recent normalization of Communist military aircraft and vessel incursions around Taiwan and joint readiness patrols shows that future conflicts may not have a clear starting point, and the lines between peace and war have become blurred.
Wang Hung-jen analyzed that the Chinese Communist Party's advantage lies in using gray zone actions to increase 'suddenness' and 'uncertainty.' If the ROC Armed Forces continue to use the old model, they might lose their first-response capability. Therefore, the current adjustment shows the military tends to conduct operations based on 'situations' rather than 'stages.'
Wang Hung-jen emphasized that the adjustment to the normal readiness period is intended to psychologically establish a warning awareness among officers, soldiers, and the public that 'Taiwan's peacetime is no longer purely peaceful.' The drastic changes during the defense operations period, from maritime interdiction, beachhead resistance to inland deep defense, outline an anti-enemy script of entering a war of attrition if the conflict cannot be ended in the short term.
Su Tzu-yun, Director of the Division of Strategic and Resources Studies at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, told the Central News Agency that this adjustment is primarily to respond to gray zone operations, providing each unit with a stronger basis for managing garrison forces and moving into tactical positions, granting more flexibility to operational commanders. He pointed out that this approach references the current U.S. military's system of five readiness and five alert stages. Although the U.S. military's alert stages were initially for counter-terrorism, the logic aligns with Taiwan's response to gray zone threats.
Su Tzu-yun gave an example: the probability of the Chinese Communist Party 'transitioning from exercises to actual combat' has significantly increased, and projection methods have become diverse. In the past, facing Communist Dongfeng series missiles, Taiwan had approximately 10 minutes of warning time. However, now Communist vessels are regularly deployed around Taiwan, even approaching within 24 nautical miles. If 052D and 054A class ships carry cruise missiles, the warning time will be shortened to mere minutes. Therefore, revising the operations plan allows missile units to adjust their standby force ratios during the normal readiness period according to the situation. (Editor: Su Chih-tsung) 1150503
The ROC Armed Forces have long followed a 'two periods, three stages' defense operations framework. The 'two periods' are divided into 'normal readiness period' and 'defense operations period,' while the 'three stages' include 'readiness preparations,' 'emergency operations,' and 'all-out combat.' However, as the Chinese Communist Party's threats against Taiwan have become more complex and diverse, blurring the lines between peace and war, the traditional division of 'emergency operations' has struggled to fully cover the current reality of 'transitioning from exercises to actual combat' or 'normalized blockade.'
According to sources, the Ministry of National Defense has revised the framework, retaining the original 'two periods' and deleting the 'three stages.' Under the 'normal readiness period,' 'preparedness deployment' and 'level two, level one enhanced alert' have been added. Under the 'defense operations period,' 'joint anti-landing and coastal strikes,' 'beachhead combat,' and 'deep defense and protracted warfare' have been added.
When interviewed by the Central News Agency, the Ministry of National Defense confirmed that to effectively counter the Chinese Communist Party's gray zone harassment and the threat of sudden military escalation, the ROC Armed Forces have adjusted the scope of application of the 'Joint Operations Plan.' This extends from the original 'wartime' command and action planning to cover 'peacetime' preparedness deployment and situation handling, thereby connecting preparedness actions between peace and wartime and enhancing the efficiency of peace-to-war transition.
The Ministry of National Defense emphasized that the ROC Armed Forces' readiness levels and operational stage divisions are dynamically adjusted in response to various possible actions by the Communist forces to invade Taiwan. Regarding sensitive information, no further details were provided.
Wang Hung-jen, CEO of the Institute for National Policy Research, told the Central News Agency that the previous 'two periods, three stages' was based on a traditional war imagination, assuming conflicts would have clear escalation processes. However, observing the recent normalization of Communist military aircraft and vessel incursions around Taiwan and joint readiness patrols shows that future conflicts may not have a clear starting point, and the lines between peace and war have become blurred.
Wang Hung-jen analyzed that the Chinese Communist Party's advantage lies in using gray zone actions to increase 'suddenness' and 'uncertainty.' If the ROC Armed Forces continue to use the old model, they might lose their first-response capability. Therefore, the current adjustment shows the military tends to conduct operations based on 'situations' rather than 'stages.'
Wang Hung-jen emphasized that the adjustment to the normal readiness period is intended to psychologically establish a warning awareness among officers, soldiers, and the public that 'Taiwan's peacetime is no longer purely peaceful.' The drastic changes during the defense operations period, from maritime interdiction, beachhead resistance to inland deep defense, outline an anti-enemy script of entering a war of attrition if the conflict cannot be ended in the short term.
Su Tzu-yun, Director of the Division of Strategic and Resources Studies at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, told the Central News Agency that this adjustment is primarily to respond to gray zone operations, providing each unit with a stronger basis for managing garrison forces and moving into tactical positions, granting more flexibility to operational commanders. He pointed out that this approach references the current U.S. military's system of five readiness and five alert stages. Although the U.S. military's alert stages were initially for counter-terrorism, the logic aligns with Taiwan's response to gray zone threats.
Su Tzu-yun gave an example: the probability of the Chinese Communist Party 'transitioning from exercises to actual combat' has significantly increased, and projection methods have become diverse. In the past, facing Communist Dongfeng series missiles, Taiwan had approximately 10 minutes of warning time. However, now Communist vessels are regularly deployed around Taiwan, even approaching within 24 nautical miles. If 052D and 054A class ships carry cruise missiles, the warning time will be shortened to mere minutes. Therefore, revising the operations plan allows missile units to adjust their standby force ratios during the normal readiness period according to the situation. (Editor: Su Chih-tsung) 1150503