Taiwan should adopt ‘hellscape’ strategy: think tankOTHER OPTIONS: Given possible US intervention and Taiwanese counterattacks, China might opt to blockade Taiwan or take its outlying islands instead of an all-out invasionStaff writer, with CNA, WASHINGTONA US think tank has urged Taiwan to adopt a “hellscape” strategy that would flood the Taiwan Strait with drones and other uncrewed systems to deter invasion by China. In its report, Hellscape for Taiwan, published on Thursday, the Center for a New American Security said Taipei’s asymmetric defense approach — often described as a “porcupine strategy” — needs to evolve to keep pace with the growing capabilities of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. The “hellscape” strategy involves saturating the air and waters around Taiwan with thousands of drones and other platforms capable of striking invading forces from multiple domains at once. It also recommended building domestic manufacturing capacity and integrating uncrewed systems into a doctrine that links sensors, shooters and command networks. Another possibility was a limited operation to take Taiwan’s outlying islands, testing international resolve while avoiding the enormous costs of invading Taiwan proper.

Source: Taipei Times February 27, 2026 17:17 UTC