Taiwan's vice president is pushing a defense strategy meant to make the island too costly to invade — a warning shot at China and a bid to keep the peace.

• Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim says Taiwan's plan is to build up its own defenses and raise the cost of attack so no invader wants to try — turning the island into a hard-to-swallow "porcupine."
• Asked if Trump would send troops if Taiwan were attacked, she called it hypothetical and said U.S. policy toward Taiwan has not changed, backed by the Taiwan Relations Act.
• China's intent to take Taiwan is no secret, and some forecasts say Beijing could be ready to attack by 2027, so the threat is being taken seriously after the Russia-Ukraine war.
• China is playing both sides — military intimidation plus "gray zone" pressure like cyberattacks, disinformation, and legal and psychological warfare — and is increasingly probing a possible sea blockade.
• The money stakes are huge: a Taiwan conflict could wipe out more than $10 trillion globally and shrink world GDP by nearly 10%, worse than any recent Middle East or Europe conflict.

Outlook: Taiwan will keep hardening its defenses and social resilience as China's gray-zone pressure grows, with 2027 flagged as a key risk window.