Taiwan Security Monitor

Author: Chris Dayton

Visualization: Third Taiwan Strait Crisis

Author: Chris Dayton

Often forgotten in contemporary discussions of Taiwan’s security is the 1995/96 Third Taiwan Strait Crisis.

This cycle of escalation lasted from July of 1995 to March of 1996, involving live fire drills, missile launches, and massive amphibious exercises.

Above is our visualization of the different stages of the crisis, beginning with the PRC’s backlash to then Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui’s visit to the United States, and ending with the PRC’s pressure campaign leading up to the 1996 Taiwanese Election.

Visualization: Japan’s Lower Island Evacuation Strategy

Author: Ian Struble, Chris Dayton

Research: Olivianna Watkins, Graham Coughlan

In March, the Japanese government announced plans to evacuate up to 120,000 civilians from the Sakishima Islands, part of Okinawa Prefecture, in the event of a Taiwan contingency.

This map is a visualization of those plans, showing the impacted islands and evacuation routes.

Visualization: AFP Northern Luzon Facilities and Deployments

Author: Chris Dayton, Ian Struble, Ethan Connell

As Balikatan 2025 continues, AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner recently underscored the “inevitability” of Philippine involvement in a Taiwan conflict, citing 250,000 overseas Filipino workers in Taiwan.

The Northern Luzon Command’s strategic position is pivotal, as joint drills with the US intensify near the Bashi Channel and Luzon Strait.

This map contains all deployed unit land facilities, relevant airfields, and naval bases/facilities.

Visualization: Philippine Radar Sites and Coverage

Author: Chris Dayton and Ethan Connell

As part of Balikatan 2025, the Philippine Marine Corps and USMC will be participating in an Integrated Air and Missile Defense event.

This map visualizes the AFP’s air defense infrastructure.

Visualization: U.S. Military Access to Philippine Facilities

Author:ย Chris Dayton and Ethan Connell

Armed Forces of the Philippines Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. recently gave a speech in which he described the Philippines involvement in a Taiwan contingency as an “inevitability.”

This map visualizes the expanding US military presence in the Philippines.

Visualization: Recent Cable Sabotage Incidents around Taiwan

TSM researchers Chris Dayton and Ethan Connell produced a map visualizing the recent undersea cable cutting incidents around Taiwan.

Authors: Ethan Connell and Chris Dayton